Forming in 2003, The Shotgun Wedding Quintet has worked to create an illicit blend of rap and jazz that’s rooted in tradition. The 5-piece ensemble creates a sound that is equal parts big-band and boom-bap, paying homage to the art of improvisation both lyrically and instrumentally.
Traditional, complex jazz arrangements form the skeleton on which each song is built, and are adorned by some of the Bay-Areas most sought-after instrumentalists. Adam Theis and Joe Cohen, both of whom recently recorded with Zion-I, share a variety of duties, juggling woodwinds, reeds, an electric bass and a few synthesizers. Pat Korte, a fierce drummer who frequently tours with Bay-Area legend Lyrics Born, leads the rhythm section, smacking his kit with dramatic authority.
The group is rounded out by acclaimed left-field lyricist Dublin, who’s unrivaled cadences are the result of countless after-hours ciphers and a finely tuned sense of ironic humor, rife with pertinent pop-cultural commentary, and Aspect McCarthy, the DJ who’s influence extends far beyond mere scratching. McCarthy essentially co-arranged the album with Thies, and their dramatically different approaches to song-writing amount to a distinct, refined aesthetic.