Joe Olnick Band - Downtown (2017)

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Written by Pamela Bellmore, posted by blog admin

The Joe Olnick Band’s sixth album, Downtown, builds on the artistic and critical success of his fifth release Defiant Grooves while extending the band’s instrumental reach in a way the aforementioned album never dared. The seven song collection is, like earlier efforts, an instrumental affair, but Olnick and his band mates avoid the typical self-indulgence often plaguing such releases. The collection is, likewise, united by a loose knit theme of life in a big city, circa 2017, and the music embodies it artfully without ever resorting to any bells and whistles in an effort to convey its narrative. The high quality production reflects the level of behind the scenes talent involved in assembling this collection, but it all begins with Olnick’s guitar work and the sterling interplay between Olnick’s rhythm section of drummer Jamie Smucker and bass player Jamie Aston.

The title song emphasizes groove and never hits an unconvincing note. Aston and Smucker’s chemistry is practically palpable and one can only imagine whether or not you are a musician, Olnick’s unbridled joy derived from playing alongside such superior musicians. There’s an easy confidence about this performance that allows the three piece to stay loose, yet precise, and maintains a deliciously natural feel. “Philadelphia Moonlight, Part One” features more tasty Olnick guitar work than the opener and has a bright, upbeat demeanor without ever coming across as forced or too saccharine. There’s some light funk propelling the third track “Food Truck” that definitely exudes a strongly urban feel without ever belaboring the point and Aston’s ear-popping bass line is ideally complemented by Smucker’s work on the skins. The trio’s stylishness comes through but it’s all the more impressive because they are able to couple it with genuine musical substance.

The band stretches out some on the song “Parkside” and its gradual accumulation of detail makes for an invigorating listen. Olnick’s six string inventiveness comes burning through on this track but never overreaches and he receives excellent accompaniment from Aston and Smucker. “Philadelphia Moonlight, Part Two” is much moodier than the first half and has some similarities to the previous song, but there’s an ambient edge to this performance that “Parkside” lacks. “Rush Hour”, the release’s second to last track, is busier than any of the earlier numbers and features some guitar pyrotechnics that never take an overwrought turn. Olnick and his band conclude the album with “Sports Complex”, a rampaging and raucous guitar work out that nonetheless goes from point A to Z in a logical, dramatic fashion. Downtown will more than please guitar fans, but there’s something here for anyone who enjoys challenging music that’s willing to take chances.