by Debra Au
Daily Lobo
Every once in a while, there comes along a jazz artist who whisks us away with the calming sounds of sousaphones and pianos to a musical oasis.
Martin McPherson - "Mac M" - is not that jazz musician.
As an Albuquerque artist, McPherson adds a different flavor to the genre, and one look at the track listing tells why.
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"Sex With My Car," "I Need a Woman (Who Used to be a Man)" and "My Buddy's Hind End," are not titles one might expect on a Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong or Harry Connick Jr. album, but in no way is McPherson trying to imitate such artists.
The album Get Your Big Leg Down is nine tracks of some of the jazziest, funniest and most bizarre stuff you'll ever hear this side of the Mississippi. And I love it.
I have to admit, though, I was a little apprehensive before listening. I gave my editor a cockeyed glance before I accepted the CD, but since I was having the week from the seventh circle of Hell, I figured things could only get better. After listening to Get Your Big Leg Down, they did.
McPherson provides half an hour of upbeat, funky tunes that can put a smile on even Scrooge's face. The first track, "Sex With My Car," may sound more than a little - um - odd, but after hearing McPherson's reasons, I can understand. It's more available and economic (no wining, dining or cuddling). He sings: "Check out the ads on the personal page / but nothing's as sexy as my Z28."
Maybe a lot of guys want to do this with their cars - they name them after females, and it had to be a guy who came up with the term "lube job."
McPherson not only sings about women, sex and cars, but also of the thing that can cause many to cringe - mullets.
Oh yeah, he went there.
"Marty McMullet" is the tale of a man and his business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back hair. After having to cut it for a job and because it got in the way when driving, McPherson tells the perils of having this infamous coiffeur.
"Sometimes when you get older, your hair cannot be saved / but when you're out to dinner, they'll mistake you for a babe." And such is the case. Who doesn't love to play the game, "Man, Woman or Mullet?"
Maybe McPherson isn't a conventional jazz musician. Maybe that's because he makes you laugh and maybe that's because he doesn't put you to sleep. Maybe this is just what the Albuquerque jazz music scene needs.
