By: David Schultz

Over the past summer, keyboardist Marco Benevento and drummer Joe Russo received the biggest exposure of their careers, sharing the stage for a series of dates with Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon. Playing under the impromptu moniker of G.R.A.B., the quartet primarily focused on Anastasio and Gordon's compositions; but the always amiable atmosphere engendered by the former Phishsters afforded both Benevento and Russo the opportunity to demonstrate the wildly entertaining improvisational skills that have made them darlings of the jamband scene. Coinciding with the conclusion of their early summer tour, which saw them play numerous dates with Phil Lesh & Friends as well as headline venues on their own, the Benevento/Russo Duo capitalize on their newfound renown with the release of their second album, Play Pause Stop.

The powerful sound generated by the Duo challenges description. Although Keane employ the same keyboard and drums formula, the resulting music could not be more different. In describing the Duo, you eventually reach the perplexing musical equivalent of the chicken and the egg: does Russo lay down a drumbeat to accentuate Benevento's keyboards or is Benevento adding accompaniment to Russo's drumming. The fact that the answer is neither goes a long way towards explaining how a guitarless duo consisting of keyboard and drums create a profoundly distinctive and inimitable sound that's attracted the attention of jamband nation. Rather than rotating support, Benevento and Russo eagerly feed and play off each other; truly a duet of organ and drums.

Play Pause Stop is an exceptionally solid follow up to their debut effort Best Reason To Buy The Sun. A more even album, Play Pause Stop builds on the strengths of their initial release, which contained a nice assortment of upbeat funky tracks, lush harmonious elegies and near avant-garde jazz, by softening some the Duo's rawer edges without dulling or diminishing the sound. Using a wide array of keyboards, Benevento creates the different moods for the Duo's pieces: his ability to give a heavy, menacing character to songs like "Hate Frame" and "Best Reason To Buy The Sun" equally as impressive as his capability to produce the prettier, pleasing melodies found in "Soba" and "Something For Rockets." While most drummers simply keep the beat, providing a foundation for the rest of the band, Russo's innovative drumming is an integral, propelling force of the songs. Even when venturing towards the traditional, as he does on the satisfying but somewhat plodding "Walking, Running, Viking," Russo finds a way to throw in an interesting wrinkle or two.

Most of the tracks on Play Pause Stop have been part of the Duo's live shows for months with some, like "Best Reason To Buy The Sun" and "Hate Frame," dating back to the release of their debut album. Unlike many albums recorded by musicians who excel at the live performance, Play Pause Stop ably captures the exhilarating energy their dynamic produces on stage. Not averse to the recording process, the Duo exhibit a deft proficiency for the recording studio: nicely pairing overlapping keyboard tracks on "Echo Park" with Russo's complex drum beats and inserting a majestic chorus into "Play Pause Stop" that replicates the spontaneous singing that often accompanies live renditions of the title track. They also venture outside of their comfort zone, deviating from their traditional formula on "Memphis," a sweet rolling tune that closes the album and features Russo on acoustic guitar. On "Powder," Russo plays a mellow melody over Benevento's lilting keyboards before going full bore into a roaring organ and drums finale that their fans have come to expect.

Refreshingly, the Duo are committed to getting their music heard; embracing the distributive power of the Internet by making the first three tracks "Play Pause Stop," "Echo Park" and "Soba" easily available for downloading. After playing Lollapalooza next weekend, the Duo will take a bit of a working vacation, playing a handful of shows with Bustle In Your Hedgerow – their Led Zeppelin cover band with Dave Dreiwitz of Ween and Scott Metzger, formerly of Particle – before returning to the road for slate of dates on the West coast.

Labels: Benevento/Russo Duo, Joe Russo, Marco Benevento