The Dixon-Rhyne Project
The Dixon-Rhyne Project | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Genres | Jazz, fusion, jazz-funk |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Owl Studios |
| Members | Rob Dixon Melvin Rhyne Fareed Haque Kenny Phelps |
| Website | Dixon-Rhyne Project Website |
The Dixon-Rhyne Project is an American jazz group from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Formation
The Dixon-Rhyne Project was formed in 2007 when tenor saxophonist Rob Dixon approached organist Melvin Rhyne, of Wes Montgomery Trio fame, about forming a boundary-pushing jazz jam band. Dixon said, "When I asked Mel if he wanted to do this project together, I explained to him what the music was like, that it's not really straight ahead and might not be his thing ... He was a lot more receptive to it than I thought he would be. In fact, he was into it."[1]
Dixon and Rhyne then recruited drummer Kenny Phelps and Chicago guitarist Fareed Haque, known for both his solo releases on Blue Note Records and his work with jam band Garaj Mahal.
Album release
After playing several gigs at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis to develop their music in a live setting, the quartet went into the studio at The Static Shack in Indianapolis over two four-day sessions in April and June 2007.[2]
In 2008, the quartet released its debut album Reinvention: The Dixon-Rhyne Project on the Owl Studios label which had previously released albums from Rob Dixon with Rob Dixon & Triology +1's What Things Could Be and Fareed Haque with Fareed Haque & The Flat Earth Ensemble's Flat Planet. The album was well received and noted by critics for its mixture of old-school jazz sensibilities with new-school experimentation and innovation.[3]
The band continued to perform live until the end of 2008, but does not perform with the same degree of frequency any longer, largely because of how busy each of the members has been since the release.
Continued work
Rob Dixon continues to work with many other jazz artists and has since recorded with Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets, Cynthia Layne, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Mike Clark, and The Headhunters.
Melvin Rhyne has not released any records since Reinvention, but has continued touring with his Melvin Rhyne Trio.
Fareed Haque has continued work on his Garaj Mahal project, releasing the albums w00t in 2008 and More Mr. Nice Guy in 2010. Plans for another Dixon-Rhyne Project album are currently unknown.[4]