Thomas Banholzer, Jug/ Trompete/Kazoo/Stimme * Notker Homburger, Stimme/Gitarre/Jug/Kazoo *

Andi Reinhard, Saxes/Kazoo/Jug/Percussion/Stimme.

Aufgenommen 1996 in Frauenfeld (CH) von Andi Reinhard.

FRIVOLUME / GREAT MUSIC /  GUITAR RAG / DON'T YOU LIE TO ME /

BETTER GIT IT IN YOUR SOUL / (JUST AS WELL GET READY) YOU GOT TO DIE 

“Formed in 1984, this German jug band already have two excellent CDs under their belt, so this  six-track demo is really just marking time. Now down to a trio of Notker Homburger (guitar, vocals, jug and kazoo), Thomas Banholzer (jug, trumpet, kazoo and vocals), and Andi Reinhard (saxes, kazoo, jug percussion and vocals), this band believes in having fun, and combining it with a high standard of musicianship – no skiffle retreads here.

On their last CD there was a Charlie ‘Yardbird’ Parker tune – this time around it’s Charles Mingus’ ‘Better Git It In Your Soul!’. The opener also has a strong, almost free-jazz feel, and only ‘Guitar Rag’, ‘Don’t You Lie To Me’ and ‘(Just As Well Get Ready) You Got To Die’ have perhaps what you would expect from a jug band – fine performances.

The real standout (though I’m not quite sure that’s the right word) is ‘Great Music’, startling and unsettling, built as it is around a very racially abusive phrase which Notker has obviously heard from people in the German music business just as I have had the misfortune to hear it from people in the blues business over here – for once, a truly deeply significant song, addressing many levels of racism – stereotypical images of black people, why and how white people sing the blues, critics’ reactions to non-English speakers tackling the music. Not comfortable listening by any means, and I still have reservations about recommending what is on the surface so offensive – but it is an issue that much of the (white) blues world seems to be very good at glossing over.”

Norman Darwen in:

BLUEPRINT – The Official Newsmagazine Of The British Blues Connection, #85, June 1996.