SMACK/dab Premiere Their Musically Dynamic Debut, ‘Bursts’

When it comes to his musical endeavours, if everyone is moving north, you’ll probably find Adam C. Tenenbaum going south. That about sums up his brand-new project, SMACK/dab, which today reveals its debut album, Bursts. Featuring seven new tracks, the record is a mashup of jam, electronic, afrobeat, and psychedelic soundscapes. Known for his work as Nectar in the mid-2000s, Tenenbaum brings a deep yet playful musical vision to the table.

Bursts is a celebration of musical fusion with moments of sheer exuberance. At the same time, it feels like a live band with enormous chemistry, but also like the studio project of a musical architect who has been working hard on every note. It’s a very colourful record with each song steering into its own musical direction. It’s as dancy as ever, but also works great as a headphone listening experience where you can hone in on every little detail.

Commenting on the record, Oteil Burbridge states:

“This is some of my favourite stuff I’ve ever played on. Holy cow!”

Tenenbaum adds:

“This music came together in such a flowing way, starting with a beautiful time jamming with Oteil, and then the enthusiastic and amazing contributions from Jason Crosby and the other musicians, who created such dimension. It’s a dream project!”

Although Tenenbaum stands at the center of SMACK/dab, he is not alone in this mission. He worked with some heavy-hitting musicians, such as the aforementioned Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band) on bass and keyboardist Jason Crosby (Phil Lesh, Jackson Browne). Drummer Graham Roggli and saxophonists Patrick Cress and Craig Hill rounded out the lineup. Tenenbaum wanted a diverse and experienced group to bring his vision to life. Everyone does their job to bring together a joyful, vibrant set of songs.

Tenenbaum is a producer, composer, and experimental guitarist. Based in Los Angeles, he has worked with a wide range of musicians from all sorts of different genres. He has collaborated closely with Mickey Hart of The Grateful Dead and Dead & Company, and he is also one half of Wooden Flowers with Michal Menert of Pretty Lights. They recently released their sophomore album, Goldtrails.

With SMACK/dab, it’s a whole new musical era for Tenenbaum. Whatever his musical venture, Tenenbaum is bringing together his enormous musical abilities and originality to create something alive and joyful.

SMACK/dab ‘Bursts’ album artwork