Plant the bulbs…frequently

Sara Schoenbeck, bassoon; Bob Carr, bass clarinet; Kim Richmond, clarinet; Dean Taba, acoustic bass; William Roper, tuba; Kris Tiner, trumpet; Brad Dutz, marimba & xylophone; Ellen Burr, flute and piccolo; Chris Wabich, steel drum

In the cracked titles department, Brad Dutz (publisher name: leakyspleen music) can duke it out with the best of ’em. “Rotten fruit…infested with insects,” “Look at the pretty weeds, they’re dead,” and “Leaf blowers are stinky…and loud” are just a few of the delights awaiting listeners who acquire Nine Gardeners Named Ned, which is a particularly non-confrontational title by comparison. It’s also one that is somewhat cryptic given that there are a dozen musicians involved herein, including Brad’s clarinet playing nine-year-old son who also designed the cover. Turns out the gardeners are the tracks themselves. There’s lots of comprovisational fun in the glorious tradition of Charles Mingus and Frank Zappa throughout the disc, but IMHO they saved the best for last with the action packed, though less memorably titled, “Plant the bulbs…frequently”

—FJO