Mr. Curt Ensemble (MC3) December 2, 2011

MC3 is actually a sub-division of the Mr. Curt Ensemble, a six-year old band that's dying to jam its brains out on its beautiful quasi-classical compositions and just doesn't know it yet. The group captures aspects of the old 60s/70s ethos that saw a number of units with free spirits and progressive sentiments trying all kinds of experimental formats to greater or lesser degree. Then they stuff them into an It's a Beautiful Day sound (Clara Kebabian taking David LaFlamme's violin role), add a dash of Marty Balin's slant in Jefferson Airplane's more mellifluous side (here courtesy of guitar/keyboardist Mr. Curt, who sounds uncannily like Balin), and round it out with the rolling bass of Marty White. Many of their way cool tunes are luxurious projections of that whole gig: breezy & flowing, - especially in the Balkan breeze invading much of the music, chiefly through Kebabian's lines (classically trained, but open to a little bit of everything). There's forever a floating quality to her playing, even with the roots and gypsy refrains she inextricably favors. Her real gift, though, is in the washes of atmosphere she creates, measurably expanding each and every song.

Mr. Curt Ensemble is truly a bunch of hippies heading down the Jurassic Highway (except, that is, for the young Kebabian), but they retain more than enough of an energy and sense of adventure to put fellow travelers to shame. The group really should be running their trade at prog shows, as they'd find a warm welcome in such halls. But, for anyone yearning for the old Fillmore/festival days, this is without doubt a group that would've wowed even the most jaded Haight-Ashbury aficionado then or now. Many of these same great notions exist in the irrepressible trio, MC3.

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