Wakah Chan

Wakah Chan rubs the funk on a brand of Bluesified Jazz-Rock that has captivated Asbury audiences up and down the boardwalk for decades it seems. NO! Wakah Chan is not a troupe of Twilight-like vampires, an unaging collective of acidic-sax sporting gypsies, with super strength, and a taste for the life source of pork-pie hat wearing virgins. That being said, the not so free form four-piece does recall a time when the gin-swigging speakeasies of the underground were the preferred music venue of choice and, in fact, last thursday (September 29th) led the good patrons of The Saint into a time machine, transporting the congregation back to said musical era with a seductive five-song set that was masterfuly recorded by, who I am assuming is a fine gentlemen though we’ve never met, named Jack “Hinge” Pitzer. - Speak Into My Good Eye

With a scene that is so heavily dominated by punk and indie rock, Wakah Chan’s “acid lounge jazz & avante-garde funk” is a refreshing find. Predominately landing in the category of jazz music, the group creatively incorporates elements of funk, blues, soul and worldly rhythms to resonate a feel-good, lighthearted mix of sounds. Wakah Chan’s music is reflective of their positive energy and sense of goodwill, and that is what took my interest in them to the next level.

The band states “our goal is to bring together a community-centered open-minded creative tribe of kindred spirits.” They frequently invite artists to their shows to create during their set, and hope to bring art to the forefront of their mission as musicians. Whenever these free spirited souls have the chance they’re giving back by playing at charity events and fundraisers. Now isn’t that what music should be all about?

Forming only about a year ago, the now four-piece ensemble had their debut live performance at The Saint in Asbury Park, N.J. They went on to play at The Starland Ballroom and The Brighton Bar, and were nominated as best Jam Band in the Asbury Music Awards last year. They are currently in pre-production of a debut studio album, and plan on spreading the good word through live performances and positive beats.

You can catch Wakah Chan live at Chico’s House of Jazz in Asbury Park Wednesday, August 3. The show is all ages and is free. It begins at 7:30 p.m. For more info and music, go to the band’s official page www.wakahchanmusic.com. - Pop-Break.com

Wakah Chan – Alive At The Saint

This next Shoreworld band doesn’t follow trends or tie-dyed t-shirt directions. They don’t head down the wide and weary pathway of conformity and they sure as hell don’t listen to any record company big wigs when it comes to laying down their own unique sounds. Wakah Chan is a psychotropic free-form funk/acid lounge jazz ensemble whose roots in sophisticated improvisational jam are flavored with classic feel-good soul, tribal, Latin, dub, middle-eastern and R&B.

Wakah Chan is based in Asbury Park but they call the whole Tri-State area their playground, performing at festivals, clubs and just about any venue that craves their colorful sounds including fundraisers and benefits for charities such as Relay For Life, Strangers Helping Strangers and the Monmouth County SPCA. With a constant impetus to uplift and play to the crowd, Wakah Chan continue to hone their fun and quirky sound while creating an interactive and positive energy exchange on the music scene and dance floors everywhere.

The band’s latest recording is titled Alive At The Saint and as you may have guessed, it is a completely live recording captured at Asbury Parks Numero-Uno of music, The Saint. The recording is made up of 10 free-styled movements and encompasses everything from the dark and ominous “Dark Eyed Gypsy” to the mysterious and psychedelic vibe of “Wakah Scat.”

If you dig experimental music this is the band for you. Largely mislabeled a “jam” band, Wakah Chan seems more at home in the improvised jazz genre than anything else. They may sound jammy at times, but it’s well thought out compositional movement that takes them through their sound odyssey. Neatly engineered by Jack “The Hinge” Pitzer, the disc bounces with smoky soul and funk panache. Other interesting cuts are the upbeat, 1940s snap of “Alley Cat Jazz,” featuring the horn action of Andy Demos and Matthew Van Houten, two guys that know how to blow without stepping on the rest of the action.

The Eastern influenced “Spinning Sound” does just that, starting softly and utilizing chunks of dynamic space, the melody is passed from vocal to horn to beyond as they gear up. The fact that this was all recorded live and is something you forget once you begin listening, as it is truly that accurate and moving. Another cool tune was “Right Meow,” a laid back Lou Reed meets Jack Kerouac-styled jazz composition, stoked with minors and tasteful wah-wah guitar chops. The horn work of Van Houten and Demos is never aimless or unmelodic in theme and they do a great job of leading this cool band deep into their self-built maze.

While Wakah Chan might not be for everybody, they probably don’t care. With their large and loyal following that digs their laid back approach to music, they’re going to continue to do very well. Yet another instrumental band that shows if the compositional skill is there, success can never be too far behind. Wakah Chan will be performing at Jamfest on May 27 in Middletown, NJ. For further information go to wakahchanmusic.com.
- The Aquarian

"If ya cant groove to that, you aint got no soul" - Mark Dammann

"ahhhhhh ya, the MIIIIghty WAAAA kAAHHh CHAAN
their Kung Fu is very strong, been choppin up Asbury!!"
-Kyle Brendle, The Stone Pony - Kyle Brendle, The Legendary Stone Pony

"Killer!" - Drew Wajnert

"I get it, and dig it. Sounds great, like the smell of sex, on a multi-sensual level. Ya gotta keep it FUNKY." - Cosmo Ohms

"A true masterpiece of mindblowing jam, these guys are heading somewhere that hasn't been visited in a long time. sure to be a name synonymous with legendary...WAKAH CHAN!" - Cosmic Elephant Radio

"Wakah Chan is hot, just hot, a totally new kind of psychedelic" - Rich

"If i had to sum up Wakah Chan into three words it would be "vibrantly channeled spirit" that hits notes of Freedom, Movement, and Joy seamlessly" - Caitlin McGrory