*200 copies limited edition* "The contemporary Los Angeles jazz renaissance has a rich cast of characters. Among the most interesting are Dave Harrington, Billy Mohler, and Jay Bellerose, all established players with fascinating discographies. While these musicians are integral to the current L.A. jazz scene, they’ve traveled various pathways to their current destinations. Harrington is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, well-known as the guitarist for Darkside, who have recorded extensively for Matador Records and achieved international recognition. Over the last few years Dave has collaborated with musicians like L.A. upstart saxophone legend Patrick Shiroishi and multi-instrumentalist Angel Deradoorian, adding to his resume of stints alongside artists as diverse as Marshall Allen and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge. Bassist Billy Mohler has spent years as a session bassist, originating in the major label rock and pop worlds with a long list of credits for artists like Liz Phair, Kelly Clarkson and Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. He has in the last few years transitioned to lead jazz projects, like his own 2025 album, The Eternal. Jay Bellerose comes from a similar background with decades of major label session work for superstar musicians such as Robert Plant & Alison Krause, Aimee Mann and Solomon Burke. Most recently he’s gained acclaim as the drummer for the Jeff Parker ETA IV, one of current LA’s most popular jazz ensembles. Together, this trio create an effortless musical language that honors the traditions of jazz yet reflects contemporary innovations.
The trio improvise fully on First Set, capturing these three musicians in their element, recorded live at the recently defunct ETA club in Highland Park and recorded direct to analog tape by Bryce Gonzalez. ETA was beloved as a workshop for the nascent L.A. jazz scene, its cozy confines bringing the audience and the music together without barriers or stages to separate. The chemistry of the Harrington, Mohler and Bellerose is obvious from the jump. Harrington, with a clean but vibrant tone, shines as he weaves melodies and complex phrasings with varying levels of intensity, finding patterns but constantly evolving them or pulling back when necessary. Mohler holds down the low end with a steady nimbleness, his accents intuitive but non-obvious, with heavy grooves and a commanding tone. Bellerose dances around these incredible players, filling in blanks, accenting with brushes and rolls that add nuance to his percussive contributions. He’s ready to meet his peers where they are and come in strong as a bedrock.
Harrington reflects on the ease of the trio’s magic, which led him to release the album on his own Maximum Overdub label: “Playing with Billy and Jay is effortless. To be honest, I think it might have been Jay who once described it as driving an old car, or just getting in the van and letting it ride. The music is always different and the more we play the more we find substrates through to new ways of playing”. This still developing group captures a real moment on First Set, one worth revisiting and worthy of standing alongside their contemporaries setting the pace for the 2020’s. By the last track of the album the band is in such synchronicity it is hard to believe that the music is in-the-moment improvisation. From their eclectic backgrounds forms a music that is fundamentally jazz at its core: modern, melodic and endlessly enjoyable." - Steve Lowenthal
