Bringin' It Back

Critically acclaimed jazz group Under The Lake's list of credits include 2 internationally distributed CDs and live performances with a "who's who" list of contemporary jazz artists. UTL's touring career has included repeat performances at popular "smooth jazz" events like the Newport Beach Jazz Festival (1996, 1997) and KiFM Anniversary Festival (1994-1997), and at the annual NAMM convention in Anaheim, California.

UTL has also appeared at other well-known contemporary jazz venues such as Maui Music Festival, Gordon Biersch Brewery (Honolulu), Sheraton Waikiki, Duke's, House of Blues, Croce's, The Coach House, Kikuya, and others. As a result, UTL shared the stage or billing with artists like Joe Sample, Spyro Gyra, Norman Brown, Larry Carlton, Keiko Matsui, Billy Cobham, Stanley Jordan, Stanley Clarke, George Howard, Jeff Lorber, Steve Reid's Bamboo Forest, The Braxton Brothers, Alan Holdsworth, Michael Cates, Mike Gealer, Arnold McCuller, and others. Under The Lake's CDs feature guest performances by Jeff Kashiwa (The Rippingtons) and Hollis Gentry (Larry Carlton, Neon).

Under The Lake's CD's have received immense critical praise, having been reviewed in local, regional, national, and international publications (see list on attached page). These publications include JazzTimes, Jazziz, France's Jazz Hot, Canada's Exclaim, Germany's Cascade, New York Daily News, UTNE Reader, and The Music Paper. Under The Lake is also listed in the All-Music Guide with a four star rating for "Up For Air".

UTL has many other notable credits including:

-Nominations for Best Pop-Jazz Album and Best Pop-Jazz Group in the 1994 San Diego Music Awards
-"Up For Air" was listed by WBJB (NY/NJ) as one of the top 10 releases for 1996
-Black Entertainment Television's BET on Jazz included the song "The Slider" on their Jazz Discoveries CD released and distributed by BMG Direct (1997)
-Radio and syndicated broadcast of songs from both CDs nationally and internationally

Here's another entry into the "cool jazz" category though it doesn't sit easy in any category, thanks to its heavy doses of funkified bass and occasional soul references. An eclectic offering that favors upbeat. joyful melodies, the five men of Under The Lake along with some guests provide solos on guitar, sax, trumpet, and keys, making for a very colorful record. "Our Hollyday" starts off the disc with a spirited, shuffling funky jazz melody. The title track features some affected guitar over an insistent, beefy bass line that falls somewhere between Spyro Gyra and The Rippingtons. When we get into tracks like "The Slider" the band switches into a late 70's fusion style with an upbeat, moving rhythm and some great trumpet work by Jayson Tipp. - Don DiIorio, North Jersey Herald and News, August, 2, 1996

The genre needs all the new creative energies it can muster from ensembles like Under The Lake, which balances its smooth pop ideas with rougher edges bordering on fusion. The San Diego band's second release Up For Air has a rhythmic ease that its more aggressive debut lacked, and this sort of subtlety goes along way towards establishing a sound that's both radio friendly and artistically intriguing. The title summarizes the effect perfectly: this time there is room to breathe between the passages of intense virtuosity. And yet, even if the basic tunes are less complex, there are moments in cool gems like "Natalie" and "Las Reinas" where solo invention takes over for simply soulful grooves. Leading the charge is electric guitar fancyman David Harris, but Jayson Tipp, who doubles on keyboards and smoky jazz trumpet, achieves his share of the synergy. Guesting on sax - and make an agreeable counterpoint to the hairpin turns - are Jeff Kashiwa and Hollis Gentry"

- Jonathan Widran, Jazziz, July, 1996 (p. 29)

"In a sophomore album purge, Under The Lake founder Jayson Tipp enlisted an all-new lineup for Up For Air. With keyboardist Tipp at the helm, the San Diego-based band retains the spacious, mellow sparkle that made last year's debut release, Dive In, such a pleasure. The best cuts funnel this quality into a lively swinging feel- both "Bringin' It Back" and "Our Hollyday" incorporate jangling '70's-style guitar riffs for funky, bubbly hooks. Likewise, "The Slider" goes for raucous hits and dramatic stops worthy of a spy show soundtrack. Tipp and company don't fare quite as well on the ballads, with a tendency to bland out into puffy synthesizer washes. Thankfully, Under The Lake does wriggle free of these intermittent lethargic gill nets." Hillarie Grey, JazzTimes, July, 1996 (p. 79)

"A fresh and talented group of musicians delivering catchy, upbeat and sultry sounds. A breath of fresh air on the Contemporary Scene." Michele Abrams, President Contemporary Jazz Online

Strap yourself in for a bouncy, fun ride in the jazz improvisation style. This San Diego-based jazz ensemble likes their music on the funky side. That's certainly a reflection of Tipp's love of jazz-rock fusion (there's a definite Pat Metheny influence) and his own years as the founder of short-lived jazz band Hot Lava. Under The Lake open with a saxophone lead over percussion on "Our Hollyday" and later slide into a funky drum beat with muted trumpet and guitar on "Globule." The variety of musical approaches is stunning and the mood always upbeat, playful. This six-man band is always controlled and a joy to listen to. Steve Baska, The Sun Newspapers

Jazz buffs will enjoy diving into Under The Lake's second album, "Up For Air." The snazzy quintet puts out very listenable contemporary jazz with the CD's 13 original tunes. For comparison's sake, the band's sound can be likened to The Crusaders, Larry Carlton, Bob James, and David Sanborn (when he cuts away from the formula stuff he often records). The 64 minutes of "Up For Air" offers solid contemporary jazz with a bit of groove and attitude. Just when you're settling in, the band wakes you up with the likes of the Latin-flavored "Las Reinas", strongly supported with soulful saxophone, or "The Slider," with a more funky groove, layered saxophones and hot lead guitar. "Note To Pat" gives Tipp a chance to show off his keyboard prowess. At times you'd swear it's a calliope. Other good trakcs include the mellow title track, "Pal-O-Mine," an alternate-tempo tune with Larry Carlton-style guitar; and "Our Hollyday," a light funk groove with smoldering saxophone. Nice jazz album. Dick Hogan, Cedar Rapids Gazette

"This is a FINE example of the creativity and high-energy playing that today's jazz can be. Seems like it must BE 'jazz month', eh? We've gotten a TON of good music in this year already, & Jayson Tipp's Offshore Music label (he plays keyboards on this outing, too) is a PRIME example of that! If you like Bob James, Larry Carlton, or Ronnie Laws, you'll KNOW what we mean already! The most distinctive aspect of this outing is the 'comfort level' the players seem to have with each other. The GROOVE is the THING...no fighting for leads....sometimes it's the sax soloing, at other times the guitar(s) stand out; but no 'pressure'. The pieces are all originals, which is certainly a mark in it's favor. If you're looking for 'hype', you'll probably wanna look elsewhere- but if what you want is clean/crisp funk-based sweet, you'll concur with me and say it's HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!" Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation.

This group takes you to the California Palm trees, ocean breezes, and cool sounds of the 70's. You get both warm-air ambience with their mellow melodies, plus a jazz upbeat. As Tipp says, "We were much more concerned with the groove. Most of what you hear is the band playing live with very few overdubs. I like to leave it organic, not sanitized." Good listening music. The Gathering Place, March/April, 1996

"San Diego, the city that brought us the good-times contemporary jazz band Fattburger, now gives us Under The Lake, a quintet of bassist Nathan Brown, drummer Michael Evans, guitarist David Harris, percussionist Roy Gonzales, and JaysonTipp doubling on keyboards and trumpet. As far as the music goes, it's pretty much standard issue all the way- lightly funky grooves under jazz-textured melodies ("Globule", "Up For Air", and "Our Hollyday"), Latin-kissed daydreams ("Natalie", "Las Reinas", and "Eye Spy")or lullaby balladry in that Kenny G vein ("Gifted"). There's an overly polished feel to this recording that leaves you with the sneaking suspicion that some of these tracks (especially "The Slider" and "Electric Nights") probably come off a lot more exciting when played live within the confines of some hot San Diego nightspot. The smoothed out mixing may get them some airplay, but overall doesn't do the band's true aura enough justice." A Train, The Urban Network, April, 1996