Jazz funk at its finest. Combining the eminently influential quirks of Thelonius Monk, the rhythmic intensity of James Brown, and the edge of noise compositions of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, T.J. Kirk puts a tongue in cheek spin on jazz virtuosity on their debut cd. Highlights include new takes on James Brown's surprisingly timeless "You Can Have Watergate Just Give Me Some Bucks And I'll Be Straight" and "Cold Sweat" and a metallic K.O. on Thelonius Monk's "Epistrophy". Using exclusively these three great writers' material on their debut, T.J. Kirk shows how far a cover version can be taken.

This polished outfit consists of some of San Francisco's finest musicians including Charlie Hunter who records with his trio on Blue Note with his trademark Jimmy Smith influenced organ/bass sound on a custom built 8-string guitar. T.J. Kirk features two more accomplished guitarists, Will Bernard (also in Pothole and Jai Uttal) who departs from funk into unchartered progressive rock, and John Scott whose rhythmic flourishes on the wah wah often hold the songs together. The lone non-guitarist is drummer Scott Amendola who maintains a sixth sense for swing while exhibiting a flexibility to improvise in step with the bands' many movements. Definitely a bunch of musicians to keep tabs on.