Musicians: Peter Kienle (guitar & Chapman Stick), Joe Donnelly (tenor & bari sax), Matt Everhart (electric bass), Danny Deckard (drums)
Tracks: Sign Broken Come in for Message, Alice's Cool B***s, Apples and Oranges, I Can't See Iour House From Here, Broken Windbreak, Georgia Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, Maximum Overlap, Peter's Party Pooper, Suburban Stardust, Siberian Kathru Blues, Uninovation
In the fall of 2002 guitarist Peter Kienle felt that many of his musical involvements were either slowing down, fizzling out or just getting a little stale. And as circumstances would have it drummer Danny Deckard didn't feel too challenged in his musical life either. Both had shared a love for 'real' fusion music of the '70s. So they decided to meet once a week and just practice together - and practice really challenging music. Before long a new bass player moved to town. Just like every musician moving to a new town Matt Everhart had a gig vacuum and a lot of free time. The three got together and a new trio was born.
Around Christmas 2002 Joe Donnelly joined the group. His instruments included various saxophones and keyboards. Now the project moved from a 'practice band' to a gigging band. The repertoire included mostly originals with the occasional cover tune by such artists as 'John McLaughlin/Mahavishnu Orchestra', 'Weather Report', 'John Scofield' and 'Emerson, Lake & Palmer'.
A month before the premiere gig at Zorba's in Champaign, IL, the band chose the name 'Splinter Group' - only to find out that the name was already taken by ex-Fleetwood Mac Peter Green. After lively debate a new name was chosen: Kwyjibo. Since then Kwyjibo had very successful appearances in Bloomington at the IU Art Museum's Jazz In July series, Parks & Rec. Concert series, Jazz Fables, regular appearances at the Chatterbox in Indianapolis and Zorba's in Champaign, IL and Indy Jazz Fest 2005.
JazzReview.com
