Hawksley Workman and Kevin Breit
Breit Workman
(Isadora Records)
3.5/5
With 17 solo albums (give or take, depending on how you count them) to his credit, Juno Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Hawksley Workman has teamed up with one of our nation’s finest guitarists, Kevin Breit, on their highly experimental debut instrumental album, Breit Workman.
Known widely for his unmistakable voice, Workman is also an amazing drummer and keeps the chaos danceable; he stands out most on the klezmer-inspired “Aging Siren,” which triggers memories of contemporary Madness. We also get some great guitar work, particularly on the lead track “Corvair Blues,” which is driven by an odd blend of ’70s Grateful Dead and ska.
A spontaneous feel is maintained from start to finish on this album as they capture the groove in the moment. This could be a one-off or it could be the start of something special. At times too chaotic and maybe weird for the sake of weird, Breit Workman keeps your foot tapping and leaves you wondering what’s next.
There is tons of great musicianship on display here, and while the record isn’t without its flaws, Workman and Breit’s debut together is definitely worth a listen.