Artist description We're a quartet, tied to the "fusion" movement, but also incorporating influences of country music, Frank Zappa, free jazz, and ECM-ish lyricism, among other things.

Music Style neo-fusion

Musical Influences Bass Desires, John McLaughlin, Bill Frisell, Glen Campbell

Similar Artists None

Artist History Started in 1983, with guitarists Brad Rabuchin and Joe Woodard, bassist bob Mair, and drummer Tom Lackner. Began working on a CD, Malarchitecture, which finally came out in 1998.

Group Members Brad Rabuchin, guitar and guitar synthesizer; Joe Woodard, guitars; Bob Mair, bass; Tom Lackner, drums and percussion... plus special guests as we see fit.

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums and ?

Albums Malarchitecture (Household Ink)

Press Reviews LEAN-TO and their CD entitled MALARCHITECTURE (Household Ink 121). This music is more subtle and dynamically varied than the release above, reminding this listener of the writing of Bill Frisell1 and the execution of both the Pat Metheny Group and the 70's English Prog-Rock band, Hatfield & The North. The group is comprised of Brad Rabuchin (el g, g synth, ac g), Joe Woodard (el g), Bob Mair (el b), and Tom Lackner (d, perc), whose 13 quartet-generated compositions (Lincoln Logs/ Goleta Factor/ Memory Garden/The Beauty Of Nuts+/ Luxury Of Timet/ Gabriell Get And Stay Outi WigI Hungry Ghoststt/ #26/ Barter A Sambat/ Bring Grandma/ The Kindness of Strangers+% - 66:30) run the gamut from hard rockers to introspective ballads. The opening track, "Lincoln Logs," shows the Frisell influence in the melody and chordal structure plus the open, airy, percussive work. There are several vocal tracks: "The Beauty of Nuts" has a funky, fuzz-guitar, quasi-reggae intro leading to vocalist Ellen Turner's (+) knowing reading of the "surrealistic" lyrics (Airlo Moriera (*) clicks in on percussion on this track): "Hungry Ghosts" has a 'Ventures meet David Byrne" hm track with Bruce Winter (*1) adding his voice over Lackner’s marimba; Glen Phillips (%) joins Ms. Turner on the last cut, 'The Kindness of Strangers," a country waltz with burbling guitar - the lyrics are poetic and the vocal reading is sincere. Some of the music has a lilting quality, even when it swings. "Barter A Samba" builds off of Airto's insistent congas and the chunky guitar work. "#26" is an odd title for a piece that opens with a lovely acoustic guitar solo before moving into a soft, slow, rhythm a la Ralph Towner. There is "out' stuff, for example the shaky, squeaky, noisy, opening to 'Wig" that leads to an insistent fuzz-bass line surrounded by guitar interjections and splashy percussion. I like the quirkiness of the arrangements and odd sounds plus most of the songs have solid melodies and are not merely vehicles for showing just how fast these guys can play. If you enjoy improvisational rock music that leans more towards the esoteric, Lean-To is recommended. --Richard B. Kamins, Cadence, August 1998 "Math rock meets fusion on this debut disc. I've been wondering about the title for a while now -- are they simply suggesting `bad' architecture, or is it a combination of malarkey and architecture? Because the latter, which suggests a sort of organized goofing off, is a pretty decent description of what you'll find on Malarchitecture. Tracks like `Goleta Factor' clearly owe a lot more to jazz fusion than indie rock, and occasionally veer perilously close to smooth jazz waters, but they also maintain a quiet intensity. You should crank the volume while listening to Malarchitecture, because it's silent and mannered and at lower volumes you won't hear everything. And it's very much worth hearing. You don't want to miss the sing-song quirkiness of `Beauty of Nuts,' on which Ellen Turner's simplistic vocals highlight the wonder of...well, nuts. `Barter a Samba' is one of those pervasive bits of music that makes you long for a vacation somewhere warm and sandy, while `Bring Grandma' is an entirely unexpected country-rock diversion. As a Rock Guy, I don't know how Malarchitecture will play with finicky Jazz People, but I enjoyed it thoroughly." -- George Zahora, Splendid e-zine "The `architectural’ aspect of the CD's title is appropriate... Lean-To's debut CD gives an aural impression of a many-roomed structure, each doorway opening into a chamber peopled by thoughts, themes, and ideas, that mutate conspiratorially right before your very ears. A prevailing aroma of technique drifts from the internal kitchen of Malarchitecture, an aroma seasoned with melody blending avant jazz, rock, and atmospheric hybrid soul. The immediate impression this CD generates is the absolute joy of feeling in the hands of thoughtful melody. Joe's song and lyric writing style is a psychological celebration of the capacity music has to lead you from the heights of joy to smoky introspection. The CD is populated by a who's-who of Santa Barbara "Best Bets" including Bruce Winter, Glen Phillips, Ellen Turner, and world-renowned percussionist Airto Moreira. Bruce Winters's moving vocal on the Lackner-Woodard cowrite, "Hungry Ghosts," sparks the imagination and soothes the soul into wondering about the essence of spirits with appetites." --Mark Fahey, "Positively State Street," Santa Barbara Independent, 3-26-98

Location Santa Barbara, CA - USA

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