Jazz-influenced Rock: Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand's Dream Big

Jason Mraz went to Nashville. Or so it seems listening to Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand’s Dream Big.

“Banjo Boy” grooves with a little rap-sing sounding a lot like Mraz’s “Curbside Prophet.” Shupe even uses “Banjo Boy” in a similar way to Mraz’s “Prophet,” in that, both songs present an artist bio/attitude/persona/“the character I play on stage.” Of course, the difference is while Mraz strives for some street cred, Shupe is aware that banjo players don’t have much street cred.

While there’s twang and country sounds filling the air, other songs on Dream Big continue to Mraz-it-up. “Even Superman” has the turn of phrase like Mraz ( ), while also echoing some of Mraz’s ballad work. “Simplify” grabs the hip-hopitude, hat cocked to the side.

The instrumental “Ambush” reveals how the band pays attention to its hero, Bela Fleck. A new bluegrass pickin’ and stompin’ tune, there’s also those jazz bits like Fleck’s Outbound.

While much on the album would point to Shupe & the RubberBand in the Country-influenced Rock section of the Spectrum, the Jason Mraz connection will be honored with the “slightly out of order” placement in the Jazz-influenced Rock section. (Note: Mraz used to round out the American Band Rock section showing both his rock skills but also near dance rock/hip hop sounds. Having now heard the new album, to be reviewed in October, Jazz-influenced Rock is the key to hearing the core of Mraz).

Shupe’s voice will not differentiate him from many mainstream country artists, a pop twang. However, given the very accomplished instrumentalists in the band including Shupe’s fiddle, plus their more eclectic style, they will not necessarily fall into the Country Music USA trap which would limit them to that insular market. Shupe & the RubberBand definitely can stretch beyond those narrow walls.

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Thanks to Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand, Capitol Nashville and Echo Music for the review CD.