Ouachita...Camden Duo Steps Up.

Ouachita, pronounced wash-eh-taw... is a young & talented duo from Camden, AR composed of guitarist Drew DeFrance, and percussionist David Pennington. These guys go back to the teen-age years for both of them, and that familiarity with each other certainly serves them well when it comes to composing, performing, and recording original music. The chemistry is evident in all their collaborations.

I was recently allowed a chance to preview their latest demo offering, Ouachita...The Airport Sessions, and I was highly impressed. These guys are totally unapologetic when it comes to crossing musical boundaries, and definitely seem to excel at it. Jam band music is about the closest I can come to defining what style this band primarily moves in. The best word I've come up with to describe this work is "textured". And, if listened to objectively...this is readily apparent as the tonalities discovered on this CD change from one moment to the next, standing out on their own, but yet...somehow coming all back together to a point of origin that solidifies the whole work as one piece.

Their influences rise to the fore on this CD, as you begin to detect the finger-print of such as Duane Allman, Jimi Hendix, and even a little Frank Zappa from time to time. The tunes on this recording are structured, yet at the same time...improvisational enough in nature to keep the attention of the hearer. Sadly, many of the songs of today are totally devoid of this characteristic. The second catch-word for this CD would then be..."interesting".

The fact is, that the Airport Sessions are done very well. Two musicians, doing everything that's audible to the ear totally by themselves... all with a very simple set-up of home computer recording equipment. The title of the CD comes from the fact that it was recorded in a hotel room near the rural airport. So then, the third & final word for this CD is..."competent".
These two young men definitely have some innate ability, as well as a gift for understanding the recording process.

That fact becomes even more impressive when you consider that both these talented young men are about to be in attendance at Media Tech in Austin, TX. Founded by Willie Nelson, this particular sound studio has worked with some of the best in the business including the likes of Willie Nelson, Sublime, Bonnie Raitt, Barenaked Ladies, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Pantera. After completing their studies there, both DeFrance & Pennington will be certified sound & recording engineers. I can only imagine what their evolution might be like in that particular music-rich environment. I, for one...will be waiting.

By all means, check out their website & listen to a few tunes from this up & coming act from South Arkansas.

http://www.myspace.com/ouachitajams