Midweek pick, October 18th 2023: lift off with Mendoza Hoff Revels
Mendoza Hoff Revels – Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
Ava Mendoza: electric guitar, compositions
James Brandon Lewis: tenor sax
Devin Hoff: electric bass, compositions
Ches Smith: drums
Available from AUM Fidelity.
Mendoza Hoff Revels is a new group co-lead by guitar ace Ava Mendoza and bassist Devin Hoff, who are joined by James Brandon Lewis on tenor sax and Ches Smith on drums. That’s some line-up. Four brilliant and imaginative musicians who have worked across genre lines on several occasions previously.
On the newly released Echolocation, the music is both freewheeling, heavy and groovy. Mendoza shreds, Lewis soars, though occasionally it’s the other way around. Hoff and Smith lay down solid yet flexible foundations, and often roam freely themselves, such as on the terrific “Diablada”, which opens and closes with a highly catchy theme. Other highlights include the swaggering opener “Dyscalculia” and the funky “Interwhining”.