The Jack Scramblers
The Jack Scramblers
Sabaco, Waseda, Tokyo
December 13, 2015
Samm Bennett—vocals, percussion, various strange instruments
Keigo Iwami--bass
Naoya Numa--drums
Kazuhisa Uchihashi--guitar
Samm Bennett’s Jack Scramblers is an intense group that defies any easy categorization of genres, but uses them all. The intensity of the group’s music amplifies the poetic passion of Bennett’s lyrics, and bundles everything into a groove-heavy ball of fire. They hit the full-on button from the get-go, digging into funky rhythms and howling, soulful vocals without even a hint of warm-up. They’re hot from note one.
Bennett belted out lyrics with the kind of intensity that brings your blood to the surface, and his too. “Riding Your Train,” the second number, packed in blues-based innuendo with fiery gusto. The lyrics are understated, but cleverly stated, and great, ear-ful fun. “Chocka Chocka Bean,” with its stick-in-your-head refrain, got the crowd further into deep grooves, and the first set’s closer, “Funeral Bell,” found the band going deeper, and Bennett’s vocals soaring higher—a great combination.
With Bennett’s vocals front and center, the band has plenty of room to move. They loosened all the connections to free up space for Bennett to sing. The open nature of the songs kept a delicious tension. The songs are songs, carefully constructed and planned, but the performance is laid-back and open to the suggestions the lyrics make. The vocals tip off the action, and then bass, drums and guitar just take off. It’s a unique blend of songwriting excellence and melodic-rhythmic exploration.
The lyrics are a treat. On a song like “Devil on the Level,” Bennett delivers unexpected rhymes, funny twists of phrase, and a fascinating confluences of metaphors. Bennett’s devil, for example, lends money, plays drums like Keith Moon, and heads out to meet friends and sow confusion. It’s a traditional motif, but made fresh as a hot meal.
Drummer Numa moves easily from jam-band stretch-out grooves to funky blues to New Orleans second-line. He’s under everything with nimble flourishes and straight-on rhythms packed with energy. Together with Iwami on bass, they lay down a thick layer of great sound. Iwami really works the entire bass, creating a full range of sound, anchoring the flow, but adding his own ideas at just the right moments.
Uchihashi’s guitar playing is tasteful, pointed and unique. He’s bluesy at moments, jazzy at others, and always knows just how to ride the rhythms. He also finds plenty of space to answer Bennett’s vocal lines and take off in his own earthy, gutsy solos. Bennett is there, too, adding percussion, pocket trumpet blasts, instrumentation and acting as conductor, which is needed, because the band makes music on a big, broad scale that’s exciting, uncommon and full of funky passion.