Headless Household takes yet some new twists on its seventh album, Blur Joan, in which the digital paintboxing of Tom Lackner and Dick Dunlap blend in with some of the most jazz-minded tracks yet. Formed in Santa Barbara in 1987, Headless Household continues to amuse and confuse its listeners and itself, mixing up jazz, rock, free improv, noise, Americana, Europeana, would-be soundtracks… and now electronica-acoustica-neurotica.

Hyphenates are in order here, with encounters of the electro-acoustic, forward-reverse (i.e. “Door of the 4/3”), inside-outside kind. Bold saxophonic contributions come from east and west, from alto player Dave Binney (NYC)—check out the relaxed retro-fitted “Then Was the Time” and the post-fusion of “Bluer in the Face”--and tenor man Tom Buckner (Ventura, Calif.)—as on the title track and “Brownie.” Ace vocalist Julie Christensen cameos on a couple of tunes (the snarly "babble" and the sweet "Sunday Go to Meetin' (Dream on Your Time)"). The all-important guest list also includes cellist Claudia Kiser, violinist Sally Barr, pedal steel guitarist Bill Flores, trumpeter Jeff Kaiser, and bassists David Piltch and Jim Connolly (filling in for regular bassist Chris Symer).

Blur Joan fits right into the Headless Household discography, by connecting up with the diversified "band sound," while also clearly otherwise.


Press notes:

Cadence, Oct. 2006

HEADLESS HOUSEHOLD,
BLUR JOAN,
HOUSEHOLD INK 137.

Blur Joan / Plaything / Brownie / Ambushed By Serenity / Then
Was The Time / Babble / Bluer In The Face / Buffoons (Let’s
See?) / Door Of The 4/3 / Monk’s Day Off / Walk Cycle / Sunday
Go To Meetin’ (Dream on Your Time). 63:33.
Dick Dunlap, kybd; Tom Lackner, perc., elec.; Joe Woodard, g; Tom Buckner, ts, cl; Jeff Kaiser, tpt; Claudia Kiser, cel; Sally Barr, vln; Bill Flores, pedal steel g, David Piltch, b; Jim Connolly, b. no date listed, Santa Barbara, CA.
Santa Barbara, California, a hot bed for creative music? Well, that may be an overstatement, but like many towns throughout the world, there is creative music to be found seemingly everywhere. Hailing from Santa Barbara is Headless Household, an eclectic ensemble. For Blur Joan, their seventh record released, the quartet becomes a trio due to bassist Chris Symer’s sabbatical, matching the group with several guests, including alto saxophonist David Binney, trumpeter Jeff Kaiser, and perhaps the most often heard voice, saxophonist Tom Buckner. Soundwise, it is an eclectic and surprisingly alluring program that covers a variety of genres that, while certainly experimental, remains accessible.
The group’s interest in the fusion of electric and acoustic touches is seen from the outset on the Indian tinged “Blur Joan,” with Woodard and Buckner sharing the theme amidst the blips, hums, and percussive touches or likewise, on “Plaything,” a joyous romp that puts the focus on Dunlap and Kaiser’s muted trumpet. The most impressive of these trials is “Door Of The 4/3,” an ominous, yet hopeful piece of Americana, tastefully manipulated and featuring striking work from Binney and cellist Claudia Kiser. The program also has the group in acoustic mode on several tracks, including “Then Was The Time,” a midtempo Jazz waltz for sextet with Binney and Buckner’s horns mixing with Woodward’s fluid guitar work. The quirkiest piece of the program, though, is “Monk’s Day Off” that oddly commences with tinges of Satie before settling into a lush tenor ballad then, what the heck—it sounds as if Monk himself woke up from a nap
and provides an off-kilter interlude before the lush romanticism returns. Worth noting is also the strong work throughout from Woodard, whether adding acoustic guitar touches on the ECM-like “Ambushed By Serenity” or the nasty Blues of “Bluer In The Face.”
Though not every track is compelling, with the funky “Brownie,” or the countryish vocal-lead “Sunday Go To Meetin’ (Dream On Your Time)” proving less exciting, these complaints are minor. Overall, a quirky--in a good way--outing from a group that is certainly charting its own course.
--Jay Collins

Long-running Santa Barbara eclecto-jazz weirdoes Headless Household have simmered all their exotic flavors into a very palatable goulash called Blur Joan (Household Ink). Joe Woodard, Dick Dunlap and Tom Lackner really orchestrated this one, and with the help of brilliant friends (Dave Binney, Jim Connolly, Julie Christensen et al.), swing and waltz and reggae and sound effects unite--natural, warm and full of protein.--Greg Burk, LA Weekly, May 10, 2006

www.laweekly.com/music/beauty-noise/dont-deport-him-yet/13465/#Continuation

What the band has going for it is solid musicianship and an admirable willingness to toss in whatever strikes their fancy.

--Aaron Steinberg, Jazz Times, July/August, 2006

www.householdink.com/headless.htm