Track By Track: Shuffle Demons Break Down New Album Crazy Time

In 2020, iconic Toronto-based jazz fusion band Shuffle Demons dropped their album Crazy Time, the ninth studio album the group had released until that point and their first in six years.

Recorded between tours of Central America, New Zealand, and Australia, and the Canadian jazz festival circuit, the project saw the return of two of the band’s original members, Mike Murley and Jim Vivian, as well as the addition of newcomer Matt Lagan (tenor sax) and Mike Downes (bass), alongside veterans Kelly Efferson, Stich Wynston, and Richard Underhill.

Shuffle Demons broke Crazy Time down track by track exclusively for Musical Notes Global. Check out their thoughts below.

“Cat Walk”

Although the title of this song suggests the glitz and glamour of a fashion show, this groovy, percussive tune was actually inspired by the back yard fence in Richard Underhill’s Kensington Market home. This food market area has an abundance of ferrel cats that regularly swing and sway along the fence, so it was christened the Cat Walk. Listen for a great solo by drummer Stich Wynston as the band lays down a choppy groove for him to play to in this fun and catchy opening instrumental.

“Makin’ it Right”

Jumping out of the gate with an Afro funk groove influenced by the great Fela Kuti, this tune weaves between a hard driving funk verse and a lyrical bridge. The horn heavy melody gives way to a beautiful bass solo by Mike Downes and then then the saxophones take it back to the groove and take it home. The title was inspired by the melodic hook of the song.

“Have a Good One”

Based on a popular positive Canadian salutation for goodbye, ‘Have a Good One’ gives this greeting an ironic twist in the verse as it pokes fun at direction of society, technology and capitalism. A haunting saxophone melodic jump hook punctuates the ‘Have a Good One’ chorus, driving home the ironic intent. Look out for a burning tenor sax solo by 23 year old newcomer Matt Lagan.

“Wandering Heart”

Wandering Heart has the driving feel of horse ride on the Mongolian steppes. A catchy melody is held aloft by a bubbling rhythm section. The tune dips and broadens for a lyrical alto solo by Richard Underhill, then breaks into a repetitive line featuring great blowing by Kelly Jefferson on tenor sax. The music reaches a climax, the band breaks camp, ride out back out onto the plain and the journey ends with the familiar repeating hook.

“Good Karma”

This groovy song with a driving ostinato bass line is reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi’s classic ‘Linus and Lucy.’ The easy flowing melody eventually transitions into a more dense and serious section but the tenor sax of Kelly Jefferson powers through the darkness and brings us back up to the top of the sunny mountain of Good Karma.

“Crazy Time”

Richard Underhill ran for mayor of Toronto in 2014 and originally wrote the chorus to this song as an homage to Toronto’s infamous crack smoking mayor, Rob Ford. Since then, the chorus has become a worldwide refrain. We really do ‘live in a crazy town, in a crazy world, in a crazy time.’ The verses poke fun at modern culture and technology: urban tanks (SUVs) Instagram, greedy banks, bitcoin, food bloggers, fast food, the climate crisis, phone addiction, fake news, etc. Another great sax solo by Kelly Jefferson takes us to out the final chorus.

“Even Demons Get the Blues”

Written by Kelly Jefferson, this tune features the signature sound of the 3 demon saxophonists in harmony. The melody (played by Richard Underhill) is borrowed from common blues riffs with some modern harmonic and rhythmic twists and turns along the way. As the title suggests, the harmonic and formal structure of the tune also uses the blues as its foundation, but is quirky to be true to Shuffle Demons tradition.

“Turbulence”

This moody song starts with a foreboding bass line, foreshadowing a tough journey ahead. After the melody is stated, the rhythm section continues with a turbulent and choppy underpinning to a Mike Murley tenor sax solo. Richard Underhill’s alto sax smoothes out the ride with some arching melodic turns, but we’re back into some serious chop as the band accompanies a Stich Wynston drum solo. The melody returns but we’re never sure that we are out of the woods until the end.

“Let it Go”

Let it Go is another lyrical song that attempts to rationalize the world around us. Through much personal introspection and reading a few Buddhist snippets online, Underhill comes to the conclusion that the best way to live life in the moment is to ‘let it go.’ This song features a serious groove laid down by Stich Wynston and Jim Vivian on drums and bass, a live instrument quasi hip hop vibe that accompanies a deranged street corner Dr. Phil rapping on the verse and a cool sunglasses at night chorus urging the listener to leave behind the past and ‘let it go.’ Listen for a truly funky bari sax solo by Richard Underhill.

“Blue Chameleon”

Written as a TV theme for Kensington Market’s mythical private eye, the Blue Chameleon, this tune has a slinky secret agent sound to it. The dark, back alley feel of the song is driven by sultry horns and a propulsive bass line. Kelly Jefferson’s sax solo twists and turns through the darkened streets, Jim Vivian takes us into a crowded bar with an angular bass solo and the theme comes back as the credits roll after another crime is solved by the Blue Chameleon. Or its it? Tune in next week as the series continues.

Listen to Crazy Time below.