Ohmphrey

Ohmphrey, the brainchild of three members of the Chicago-based jam-band Umphrey's McGee (keyboardist Joel Cummins, guitarist Jake Cinninger and drummer Kris Myers) and OHM guitarist Chris Poland, a legendary player who's perhaps best known for work with headbanging pioneers Megadeth, and bassist Robertino Pagliari (a.k.a. Pag), unleashes their improv-heavy self-titled debut a record that assimilates not only disparate musical genres but the individual playing styles of everyone involved. Gathering so much talent under one band banner, much less in one room, is historic. Then again, so often supergroups fail miserably and fall pitifully short of their potential. Fortunately for Ohmphrey (and the rest of us), this project cuts against the grain in so many ways, not the least of which is by eschewing the pitfalls of modern production techniques in favor of a straight-ahead live recording setting. These extended instrumental jams are exciting and cohesive statements. The band seamlessly weaves together elements of metal, jazz, blues and prog rock.