Dangerous Odds are Al Jewer (flute, woodwind synthesizer, sax, bass), Art Durkee (Chapman stick), Tom Hamer (drums), Diedre Buckley (viola), Ron Ellis (poet), Larry Giles (poetry, voice). Guests include Biff Blumfumgangne, and Ross Nielsen with Heather Figi, Kristina Hord, Blain Kennedy, Rick Murphy listed as special guests. Dangerous Odds formed in 1990 as a regrouping of Chamber Rock Ensemble, a poetry music project that featured Al Jewer and Art Durkee. Named out of stick player Durkee's wish to reflect the band's commitment to performing without the"' safety net' of rehearsal", the band has been playing in "all styles of music from classical to jazz to experimental to groove based rock and many more ... Frequently at the same time".

The Best of Dangerous Odds, Vol. 2 is the Madison, Wisconsin group's debut, titled because of material taken from performances in the bands second four years 1993-96 (See? The title does too make sense). Devotion to improvisation aside, another factor marking this group as unusual is the "Guitar Free Zone" declaration. All the tracks but a couple on Vol. 2 are without guitars, creating an interesting musical climate. If experimental spontaneous music and spoken word performance created in a Guitar Free Zone tickles your eardrums, I dare you to try Dangerous Odds. The Best of Dangerous Odds, Vol. 2 is available via mail order for us $15 + $1.00 S/H at the Laughing Cat label's web site, http://www.lafcat.com/. 

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: The Early Years Volume 1 at garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-The-Early-Years.