★★★★
“[‘Liverevil’] teems with elevated levels of bold intensity, imagination, prowess and playing… Anchored by Lundbom’s Olympic-caliber guitar gymnastics…the group’s coordinated performances are as notable for what’s present as much as for what isn’t – namely, any loss of direction, lack of focus or temptation to solo at the expense of sacrificing structural integrity. As the finest improvisers often do, the instrumentalists here make controlled chaos seem natural, while simultaneously paying mind to the illusion that anything can happen next – meaning that every stray note and subtle tempo shift matters …The ‘punk jazz’ label occasionally affixed to the ensemble seemingly overlooks its tonal authoritativeness and way with quiet passages (“Tick·Dog”‘) that trace a direct line back to the exotic beauty of Miles Davis’ ‘In A Silent Way.'”
D. Oscar Groomes, ‘O’s Place Jazz Magazine’ 02/10/14
“Each set [captures] the spontaneous creativity of guitarist/composer Jon Lundbom [& Big Five Chord]. They stretch out across all boundaries challenging listeners to enter their zone. Those present took the leap and truly enjoyed it.”
S. Victor Aaron, ‘Something Else’ 01/27/14
“Lundbom and his motley bunch have been bringing together the intensity of heavy rock with the intensity of jazz in unpredictable ways for five albums… BVC has always been immediate and living right in the moment, so this two set gig at Brooklyn Fire Proof is not only logical, it might have been long overdue. …By picking out the highlights of the prior albums, tossing in a couple of curveballs and playing in its natural, live environs, JL&BVC’s latest is the earliest release anyone should acquire if they get curious about this group’s music. And with all that firepower and creativity gushing forth from Liverevil, there is plenty to be curious about.”
Stuart Derdeyn, ‘The Province’ 01/21/14
“A double live CD from a band acclaimed for its ability to channel acid rock aggression with quirky swing, heavy bop and more. The title is both a play on the Miles Davis and Black Sabbath live albums of the same name and…tunes such as ‘Bring Forth The Battalions’ feature guitar workouts worthy of either disc. …Fusion heads take note.”
Brent Black, ‘Bop-N-Jazz’ 01/18/14
“Take everything you learned in music theory and forget it…Jon Lundbom is charting a new course for modern jazz! Getting bogged down by convention simply is not their wheelhouse…[Big Five Chord is] one of the most inventive yet hard to pin down bands over the last two decades. …This is post modern jazz on steroids. No bullshit. An all star band well on it’s way to charting an incredibly successful path for others to follow. ‘Quavers! Quavers! Quavers! Quavers!’ is an absolute must for any library!”
Brent Black, ‘Bop-N-Jazz’ 01/07/14
“Full contact gorilla jazz! About as subtle as a plane crash and twice as exciting! Take everything you know and love about the romantic notion of modern jazz guitar and become a blank slate. Jon Lundbom not only reinvents the hard bop idea of swing but fuels it with an edgy intensity that will set your hair on fire while your brain attempts to play catch up with the blistering pace set by this all star band of heavy weights. …Easily the pick of the litter of new releases for 2014.“
Chris Spector, ‘Midwest Record’ 12/27/13
“It’s like he’s trying to make his girl friend shut up and let him hang out with his pals all night, night after night. That’s why there’s wican [sic] songs, sly hat tips to Neko Case and other stuff interspersed among the left leaning, progressive jazz that’s long left the wannabes in the dust. With the guitar out front, angular jazz is on parade in fine form as it wends it’s way down this jazzy, garden path. Wild stuff for left leaning ears that really know how to take it. Well done.”
George Grella, ‘The Big City Blog’ 12/18/13
Number four on “2013 Ten Best New Releases”!!!
Mark Corotto, ‘All About Jazz’ 11/06/13
★★★★
“The music rocks-out [sic] without leaning on jazz fusion as a crutch, and pushes past jazz tradition by plugging into deep grooves. …The combination of electric guitar, electric piano and sympathetic horn arrangements maintains the music’s energy and ingenuity. …Lundbom’s compositions push the music toward groove steady sounds, then pull it into jazz with odd time signatures and a taste for multiple changes.”
Peter Margasak, ‘Chicago Reader’ 06/18/13
Best Music School for Graduating Contemporary Jazz Greats
“DePaul’s music department has long been one of the strongest in the Chicago area, and in recent years a remarkable number of musicians who’ve spent time in its jazz program have ascended to the national stage. Not everyone on this list graduated, but there’s no disputing the talent and vision of the players who’ve been touched by DePaul’s faculty: saxophonists Jon Irabagon, Matana Roberts, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Nate Lepine, vibist Jason Adasiewicz, trumpeter Amir ElSaffar, trombonist Nick Broste, guitarist Jon Lundbom, and cellist Tomeka Reid, to say nothing of experimental types such as Jim O’Rourke and Greg Davis.”