The Sounding Board by R J Lannan

The Sounding Board by R J Lannan

RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board.

The Sounding Board by R J Lannan

Label: ILS Records

Off the Deep End

Bassist extraordinaire Dean Peer has several albums to his credit, which is no mean feat for on

guitar as a lead instrument. Along with long-time veteran percussionist, Bret Mann, Peer's late

Airborne is a thrill a minute ride on a jazz-rock infused roller coaster. Peer is not just your ave

He is well known for the total utilization of his instrument that may include tapping, plucking, sc

incredible harmonics that just seem to come out of nowhere. Airborne is a hodgepodge of style

all of it is good. The compositions are quite clever and you kind of wonder if Peer’s art has any

1Speed is a very dramatic opening to a unique collection of songs. It is energetic to the point o

frenzy, but eventually settles down into some haunting 80's riffs reminiscent of Jefferson Airplan

became confused. Mann keeps a steady cadence as the music grows into a driving two-man orc

and drum kit. It is a wild ride.

The title tune Airborne makes you wonder how far down the fret board Dean can play. Probab

the pickup. There are some stratospheric harmonics all over the song. I guess that accounts for

tune turns into a funky blues melody that is astonishing as it sounds like something between an

and a Theremin.

One of the more complex and satisfying tunes on Airborne is called N'est-ce Pas. Translated fr

means many things, but basically it is saying "And why not?" There is a lot of patting on the str

grooving percussion. It is another tune where Dean becomes a one-instrument band with great

Brett. It turned out to be a favorite.

Twin Peaks starts out with a deep bluesy rift and sounds like it has some electronic enhancem

probably more of Dean's superb tinkering. The melody is only identified half way through the se

crazy fret-boarding going on. There are so many kinds of mountains...

On the southern coast of Oahu, Hawaii is the city of Waimanalo. It is adjacent to the beryl-colo

white sandy shore of Makapu'u Beach. It is a place of much beauty, community, and inspiration

Waimanalo Ohana (ohana is Hawaiian for family) puts out a funky rift that reminds me of the

palm trees and the miles of sand. He also Anglicizes the feeling of "ohana" the most important

in Hawaii, the family.

Peer has made his mark on the music industry by his unique style of bass harmonics and his fu

genres. He has numerous awards on his wall, contributes often as a guest recording artist and

albums under his belt Ucross and the noteworthy Travelogue, which garnered an album of the y

Jazz Times. I can only remember one other duo that had such rapport and synergy. Back in the

was duo called Silver Apples. Electronic and drums. They only had two albums and their remark

rock music went unheeded by most. Airborne is going to make people take notice. It is unavoid

- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 3/3/2010