Self-released, January 2025
Seattle band Jazz Overhaul’s debut album Filthy is a gutsy take on the city’s iconic grunge sound that shaped the Seattle music scene in the 1990s and beyond. At first glance, the album appears to be another jazz-take covering songs from a different genre, but from the first track, it is clear that Jazz Overhaul adds their own energy to these classic songs, delivering a heavy dose of jazz improvisation, funk, rock, and dynamic interplay that brings new life to these familiar tunes.
Covering songs from Seattle’s iconic grunge music scene that brought bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam to the rest of the world, Jazz Overhaul, is a name that stems from their approach to creating arrangements from these classic bands and other popular music from the past 30 years and “overhauling” them to fit into the jazz structure.
Saxophonist Cliff Colón, keyboardist Jake Sele, bassist Osama Afifi, and drummer D’Vonne Lewis dive right into their take on grunge, opening the album with the quintessential punk anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Riffing on the familiar Nirvana track, Sele’s bouncing organ introduces listeners to the band’s funky, improvisational approach that characterizes their performance throughout the album.
Sele’s organ continues to add depth and atmosphere throughout the album and is again heard leading the way on Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy,” where the band works together to create an improvisational jam that builds tension and release and drives through rock dynamics that prove that these genres share more in common than one might think.
The album wraps with “Even Flow,” featuring special guests Marina Albero on keytar and RL Heyer on electric guitar, both adding an additional serving of driving rock and up-tempo funk that make this one so special. The collaboration between all the musicians on this track, including the addition of Thomas Marriott on trumpet, David Marriott, Jr. on trombone, and Alexey Nikolaev on tenor sax, creates a tangible and infectious energy that is just as fun as it is poignant angst.
Beyond the musicianship, what makes Filthy so noteworthy is how Jazz Overhaul captures the heart and spirit of grunge in their approach while skillfully adding their own dose of jazz to the mix with a touch that harnesses the power of the originals. Their performances overflow with chemistry, and the sessions, available on their YouTube channel, are worth checking out in addition to the album itself.
Filthy is a testament that despite the vast spectrum of sounds and musical flavors that exist across genres, musicians can still share a similar energy and approach to creativity, whether they come from jazz or from grunge.
