Show of the month
A.K.A.C.O.D. at The Middle East Upstairs
Cambridge, MA July 21, 2006

Those in the semi-restless Cambridge crowd stopped dead in their tracks when first act Monique Ortiz took the stage. This usually happens when an iconic performer picks up his or her instrument, but this first set featured not just Ortiz on her trademark fretless bass, but also Boston's eminent baritone saxophone man, Dana Colley. Behind the two sat yet another distinguished performer, Larry Dersch. Almost as if an invisible, slow-motion fuse had just run out, the burn of the trio's sound began to spread throughout the club. The members of the group melded together into a throaty mid-level growl, between the sliding quarter-tone notes of the bass, the distorted snarl of the saxophone, Dersch's sizzling fills and Ortiz's powerfully expressive voice. Ortiz displayed an impressive and expansive vocal range, from her cruising-level female baritone to a gritty howl. Wondrous things happened to the group's sound when Ortiz pushed the vocal energy envelope. On the other side of the stage, Colley's overdriven saxophone tone made it sound like his reed was on fire. Giving perhaps one of the more inspired brass performances that may ever have taken place (at least until he plays the Middle East again), Colley's sax-afire perfectly complemented Ortiz's dark voice and sinful bass lines.

- From Performer Magazine