Oz Noy Trio with Anton Fig & Jimmy Haslip

[Oscar67]

Went to see Oz Noy play last night with Anton Fig and Jimmy Haslip. Three of the best musicians around and yet only 80 people showed up. To say the crowd was thin would be the understatement of the year. Those who did show up were totally into it and got to see them up close and personal. Standing front and center I got the sound straight from the backline amps and Anton’s drums. The guitar sound was glorious, despite using what appeared to be the house amps. Oz played some standards from his upcoming jazz album and then asked the audience to identify them. Quite the challenge how he’d turned them totally upside down. What else can I say except that those 80 or so people were in the presence of greatness. All three played incredibly well. Absorbing that up close was a fantastic experience.

[Oscar67]

I was in a hurry when I wrote that so let me expand a bit on Oz’s gear. For amps he appeared to use a reissue Bassman and a Hotrod DeVille. As usual he played a Strat and used the same one throughout the set. It appeared to be a Fiesta-red model with a large headstock. It seemed battered, but I could not tell if it was an old one or a heavily relic’ed custom shop model. It sounded like a million bucks. When Oz played chord melody stuff without effects (just reverb), his tone was very woody, detailed and 3D-sounding. I heard his amps directly, not through the PA, and as far as clean tones go it was perfection. Can’t play jazz on a Strat? Go tell Oz, he didn’t get the memo.

As usual he was tapdancing on an extensive pedal board and that’s not really my thing. He makes clever use of it though. And it always sounded pleasant, never harsh or sterile.

[Cunamara]

This band here?

Thanks for mentioning it. I have not listened much to Oz Noy, even though I've known about him for years.

I had not previously noted that Jimmy Haslip plays his bass strung right-handed and flipped over, even though I've watched many videos of him playing with Holdsworth.

[Oscar67]

This band here?

Yessir. Great song, btw. Still figuring out what goes on here rhythmically. Fascinating.

I have not listened much to Oz Noy

As much as I like his “usual” albums, it’s the Riverside album that really gets me. It’s sort of halfway between what he normally does and straight ahead jazz. Love that album.

[Dave24309]

Here is a video with Jimmy Haslip. He takes a solo and you can see his technique up close. I didn't realize he played "upside down" either. Nice.

[Oscar67]

It appeared to be a Fiesta-red model with a large headstock. It seemed battered, but I could not tell if it was an old one or a heavily relic’ed custom shop model.

Custom shop, specifically made for him. For strings he uses a D’Ad .011-.049 set with a replacement.012 high E. And high action.

That’s pretty hard work on a Strat. He sounded awesome.

[nelliebot]

I'm bummed to have missed them when they came through Denver. Oz is one of my favorite musicians. He just keeps getting better.

[Paulie2]

His new album that just came out is very interesting. By far the most "straight ahead" jazzrecording I have heard by him

[Oscar67]

His new album that just came out is very interesting. By far the most "straight ahead" jazzrecording I have heard by him

There’s also the Riverside album, I really like that one as well. The new record is nice. Oz is ferociously creative, goes wherever his muse takes him and damn the critics. His ‘usual’ effects-laden records are really interesting with mind-boggling rhythms, but personally I like the more ‘pure’ records better such as Riverside and the new one.

[DustinG]

Oz is an amzing player. I actually just featured him in the Vivid Guitar newsletter.

[Cunamara]

I've just listened to the Riverside album a couple of times. Wow. I have heard of Oz Noy over the past 15-20 years, I've never actually heard him very much. I remember watching a video on YouTube a number of years back and thinking "well that's not my cup of tea" I'm not pursuing it further. The Riverside album is astonishingly good. Oz has everything going on: tone, chops, imagination, rhythmic ingenuity, vision. I am way impressed and will be listening to more of his music going forward. I find myself thinking "how have I not been listening to this guy for the last 15 years?"

Thanks to Oscar67 for mentioning it!