Praise For Wallflower.com | Indie Music Blog

THE SKINNY: Batik is a wild lounge-jazz band from New York that is making a name for itself through innovative writing and commanding musicianship.

WEBSITE: http://batikjazz.com
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/batikjazz
PURCHASE: Amazon MP3, iTunes, CDBaby

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Batik is a jazz group from Carmel, New York, and though you wouldn't think it to listen to them, they're comprised of just five members; all of whom keep pretty busy both on and off the record, as is evident on their youtube videos. It's hard to say exactly what kind of music Batik makes on a consistent basis, but my inclination is to call their style avante garde lounge jazz. Of course, that's not a very concise way to describe a band, so I'll let them figure it out for themselves, but in any case Batik makes some interesting and very obviously experimental music.

Experimental doesn't mean noise, here. Most of Batik's tracks are simple in format, but complex in their chordal structure and melodies, which are almost impossible to hum with or remember, but pleasant all the same. The myriad of textures the band brings to the sound stage also contributes to their appeal. Drums, trumpet (often muted), Bass (the fret-less stuff is great), sax (played by bass player Barry Hartglass), keys, and a variety of percussion all make each of their unconventional tracks interesting.

While the band always manages to hold my interest, the experimental nature of certain parts of songs can be overwhelming at times. Keyboard solos that are clearly inspired but undeniably wild melodically will probably make things less approachable for the average listener. On the other hand, I think it should be noted that Batik consistently provided a tangible groove in every song, which is the best way to make music approachable in this day and age. If your a fan of jazz or funk or anything in between, or need some music for your next (very classy) dance party, then Batik can absolutely contribute something to your music collection.

"Lizarb" off of Vudu