I like to categorize my music. I have all kinds of lists and categories: Music to cook by (usually Ella Fitzgerald but it really depends on the dish), Top five songs while sitting in traffic, songs of Autumn (anything by the Smiths), the Soundtrack of my life and so on until it spirals into the dizzying depths of the inane. The latest CD from California’s Frank Jordan (a band, not a man) is one of those albums that refuses to be pigeonholed. Upon first listen I wanted to stick it into 'Background Music' or something that just plays on the stereo while life goes passing by, but it’s not quite that easy. For now, 'Decoy' remains my favorite album by a jazz-fusion-esque California group with a delicious rhythm section and offbeat and fresh vocals.
From the appropriately named first track, 'Starter' through 'Woke up' which ends the album with, "I’m so sick of singing this song", 'Decoy' is full of surprises. The surprises are small at first - jazz-like percussion or the curious turning of phrases as in the interesting 'Of Ways'. The album becomes more surprising with each track, delving into distorted vocals that seem oddly at ease in 'Words'- the best song on the album. The song has a dream-like quality enhanced by the hypnotic drumming of, Devin Hurley, a standout on nearly every song on the album.
Not to be outdone, the vocals and guitar of Mike Visser are a perfect match to the rhythm laid down by Hurley and bassist Matt Ontjes.  Most of the songs have a spontaneous feel as if the group is in the middle of one long jam session. Songs like 'Standard' beg to heard live.  Almost lost behind the quality of musicianship is the strong songwriting which is at times psychedelic and at others direct and honest. Once again, 'Words' is the best example on the album. "That be When my eyes are awake I can’t help but feel That I know what I felt when my eyes were shut." My thoughts exactly.
Where does Frank Jordan fit in now? Band of the month November 2000. Favorite song of the week: 'Words'. Favorite new drummer: Devin Hurley. And song that contains a Godzilla moment: check out the vocals in the middle of 'Made'.

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