Micah Gaugh - The Blue Fairy Mermaid Princess

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 26 / 3 / 2013

Micah Gaugh - The Blue Fairy Mermaid Princess

Label: Africantape
Format: CD

Excellent avant garde jazz from saxophonist, novelist and opera composer Mical Gaugh, which, while recorded between 1994 and 1997, has until now been unreleased

Review

Recorded between 1994 and 1997 this freeform and avant garde jazz album, 'The Blue Fairy Mermaid Princess' shows just one of saxophonist Micah Gaugh's sides, alongside being a novelist and an opera composer. As a producer, Micah Gaugh has worked with Steve Albini and Jim O'Rourke, yet it has taken until now to hear what Micah Gaugh performed nearly two decades ago now. Compiled from three recording sessions in New York, the performances of a, or the, Mical Gaugh Trio serve as background information, rather than as an introdution to this album. The laconic wit on 'Fly', for example, is of all ages and ends in an almost heart-broken reflection on the absurdity of life. The main importance of this album is to document Micah Gaugh as an aspiring musician. His improvisational talent as an alt. tenor saxophonist comes to the rescue when on 'Cat Club Tree House' - one of a couple of live recordings on this record- he is driven into the corner. On 'El Mar Rojo' though it as if you're blown back into this lower East Side club of nearly 20 years ago. It closes off with an almost self-confessional song, 'Pretty Kitty', and then 'Mood Vertigo', which is a clever workout on the piano keys. I can recommend this as vital background information to Mical Gaugh.

Track Listing:-

1 You and Me and Me
2 Molly
3 Girl
4 Oh, When My Lady Comes
5 Fly
6 Crystal Ball
7 Hunger
8 Cat Club Tree House
9 El Mar Rojo
10 Cigarette
11 Pretty Kitty
12 Mood Vertigo