The album Blüth is a jazz/fusion project released in late 1997 by the instrumental trio Blüth (featuring drummer Zach Danziger, bassist Tim Lefebvre, and keyboardist/producer Peter Davenport). Widely circulated and occasionally cataloged with its European release year of 1998, the album is known for its experimental, groovy fusion sound and often featured special guest musicians.
There are two distinct physical CD versions of the album, primarily separated by geography, release year, and how the artists were credited on the packaging:
The US Edition (1997): Released via independent labels Kineticsurge and Garbonzobean Records under the title "Blüth: With Special Guests". This version directly lists the core trio (Zach Danziger, Tim Lefebvre, Peter Davenport) on the primary packaging artwork.
The European/German Edition (1998): Distributed overseas a year later through EFA and the New York Jazz Guerrilla (nyjg) collective. On this version, the main artist credit is often displayed under the collective's banner (New York Jazz Guerrilla), leading it to be cataloged separately by international collectors.
Album Overview
Title: Blüth: With Special Guests
Release Year: 1997
Country: United States
Format: Compact Disc (CD, Album)
Record Labels: Published and manufactured concurrently via Kineticsurge and Garbonzobean Records
Catalog Number: GBR-0222
Personnel & Instrument Credits
Peter Davenport – Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Tim Lefebvre – Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve Tavaglione – Tenor & Alto Saxophone (Track 8)
Dave Jensen – Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 3, 5)
Andy Middleton – Soprano Saxophone (Track 3)
Steve Lefebvre – Trumpet (Tracks 3, 5, 8) [1, 2]
Production Team
Torsten De Winkel – Co-producer
Studio Tracking: Mixed and engineered primarily through independent NYC spaces including The Boom Office, NYC.
Track listing ...So I Said From the Flight Deck Very Good What's Your Time Frame? Sox Are On You Dig Drumfommercial The Boom Tune Sikadis A Walk in the Woods Vegetarian Takeout Pesticide Panties and a Portrait of Marge The Over the Ear Look Otto Blaj Collaj Closing Remarks Significance
Although Blüth never became widely known, it has gained retrospective interest because it documents several musicians before they became internationally recognized:
Tim Lefebvre would go on to work extensively with Donny McCaslin, Wayne Krantz, David Bowie, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and many others.
Zach Danziger became one of the pioneers of integrating live drums with electronics and interactive technology.
David Binney became one of the leading composers and bandleaders in contemporary jazz.
Chris Cheek established himself as one of the most respected tenor saxophonists of his generation.
Skúli Sverrisson developed a distinctive career working with artists ranging from Laurie Anderson to Bill Frisell and Blonde Redhead.
For anyone interested in the roots of the electronic jazz movement that eventually produced albums like Donny McCaslin's Casting for Gravity, Beyond Now, Blow, and Lullaby for the Lost, Blüth is an intriguing early document. It captures many of the same ideas nearly two decades before they entered the mainstream of contemporary jazz.
