Toby Arrives is the debut album from the new instrumental trio of doom calling themselves Koch Marshall Trio, a band comprised of heralded guitarist Greg Koch, his son Dylan Koch on drums, and Hammond B-3 sensation Toby Lee Marshall. Formed basically out of a chance meeting, the three musicians got together over a few days in early spring 2017 and recorded these eight tracks 'live' in the studio, the chemistry instantly apparent, which has not only led to this album for The Players Club/Mascot Music, but a host of live appearances as well. An actually band has been formed!
If you are at familiar with Koch and his brilliance on the guitar, his fusing of blues, jazz, funk, rock, and jam is a perfect match for Marshall's sultry B-3 tones and Dylan's funk grooves. Just listen to the grit 'n' groove of the vibrant opener "Toby Arrives", as off-kilter Telecaster lines meet Hammond in quirky fashion, or the searing bluesy funk of "Funk Meat", complete with monstrous guitar work from Greg, as the trio take hold of you and never let go. "Heed the Boogaloo" is as infectious as it gets, Dylan's tricky snare licks percolating underneath simmering B-3 and Greg's acrobatic lead melody lines and screaming chickin' pickin'…these guys are on fire here with music that's almost hard to classify as it accumulates so many styles together into one accessible yet adventurous sound. After a blazing Koch guitar exploration, Marshall jumps in with a wild Hammond jaunt that will make any fan of Smith, Allman, Winwood, Lord, and Auger smile. "Let's Get Sinister" moves more towards classic blues, the shadow of Albert Collins looming large as Koch squeezes every bit of emotion out of his Telecaster, while the near 10-minute "Mysterioso" combines jazz, jam, and some atmospheric guitar artistry ala Joe Satriani/Jeff Beck/Eric Johnson. The upbeat "Enter the Rats" has a cool bluesy Southern flair, again showing another side to the band, Koch & Marshall trading off some blazing solos, before the heavy ZZ Top influenced swamp blues of "Boogie Yourself Drade" blasts through the speakers with reckless abandon, Koch a monster unleashed and firing off one lethal lead & riff after another. This guy is easily the world's best kept guitar secret, but shouldn't be for long. After Marshall jumps into the fray for a torrid exchange of his own, the trio jump back into a groove together that's like a delicious meeting of ZZ Top and Deep Purple. "Sin Repent Repeat" closes out this scorcher of an album in playful blues fashion, Greg's tasty slide licks gliding over simmering Hammond and steady drum grooves.
To put it simply, this is a great album, a must hear for not only guitar & Hammond fans, but for anyone that appreciates quirky, original sounding instrumental music that incorporates elements of blues, jazz, rock, and funk. This is as good as it gets folks, and I personally can't wait to hear what with this trio comes up with next.
Track Listing
1) Toby Arrives
2) Funk Meat
3) Heed the Boogaloo
4) Let's Get Sinister
5) Mysterioso
6) Enter the Rats
7) Boogie Yourself Drade
8) Sin Repent Repeat
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