The four musicians of fattlabb, formerly known as Splatch, have two CDs, a history of personnel changes, and nearly half a thousand live performances behind them. But now the original four players have reunited to take their art to the next level: more improvisation, more groove, more mixing of funk, rock, traditional jazz, and fusion—in short, more of what made their group the premier band of its kind in Louisville.

The sound of fattlab can’t really be described in terms of how similar or different it is to that of other performers. While not so avant-garde or just plain weird that it drives listeners away, it is still something distinctive that must be experienced. The band’s performances feature the members’ own compositions plus their renditions of jazz, funk, and rock classics, always tight and polished but with plenty of room for solos.

The fattlabb lineup consists of two sons of a big band musician (Tony and Pat McDaniel on trumpet and bass, respectively), a recording engineer and producer (Sam Gray on drums), and a veteran Louisville session man (Pete Petersen on keyboards)—four professionals who have been playing together for nearly a decade. As fattlabb, the guys have revised some items from their Splatch catalog and added a delicious assortment of new tunes as well.

Program 721

Visual artist Victor Sweatt, jazz/funk band fattlabb, and the conversion of a former meatpacking plant into the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center. (#721)

Program 736

Visual artist Victor Sweatt, jazz/funk band fattlabb, and the conversion of a former meatpacking plant into the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center. (#736)