Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features jazz by the Alex Anest Organ Trio, sadcore by Hubbard Lake Baking Club, dark ambient by Paper Petals, jungle by Duburban, and live jams by Stormy Chromer.

Alex Anest Organ Trio, At Trinity House Theatre
Guitarist Alex Anest could have called this the A2 Organ Trio and been booked at townie events from now until Tree City turns 300. Actually, Ann Arbor's Double-A does play in town a lot, primarily at the Blue LLama with jazz groups and in rock/folk clubs as a member of The Ferals with Kat Steih, Delta 88, Anne Erlewine, and others.

Anest's Organ Trio pulls from the early 1960s where bebop met R&B for a greasy combination of improv and groove. He's released Organ Trio two albums in the past with Corey Kendrick (organ) and Gayelynn McKinney (drums), both recorded at Blue LLama. But for the new At Trinity House Theatre, the lineup switched to Jim Alfredson (organ) and David Ward (drums), though there is some tiny overlap in the setlists with the two bands.

The Organ Trio explored Duke Pearson's "Nomad" and Ernie Krivda's "Panhandle Hook" on Live at the Blue LLama, Volume One, and those appear again on Trinity House. (The vinyl-only Live at Blue LLama Volume Two also includes two other Pearson numbers, "Chant" and "Idle Moments.") The new album also includes an interpretation of "Fried Pies" by Wes Montgomery—one of Anest's favorite guitarists—as well as two originals, "Song for Edward" and another dedication, "I Know That's Right," written for McKinney.

No matter the lineups, the Alex Anest Organ Trio simmers through its setlists, and the guitarist says he prefers the warts-and-all energy of live recordings. My ears must be filled with warts because I didn't notice any musical miscues; just two great bands on the run, ripping through funky sets. Though the audio quality of the Blue LLama dates is superior to the Trinity House concert—maybe the former is direct from the board and the latter is a room recording?—all of Anest's albums are worth buying if you love soul-fueled jazz.

Hubbard Lake Baking Club, Your Darling EP
Within 40 seconds of playing the first track from Hubbard Lake Baking Club's debut EP, I was checking credits to see what year it was released: 2024. But if you're of a certain human vintage and clued into the late '80s and early '90s slowcore/sadcore mini-movement, you might also think Your Darling came from a different era. This Ann Arbor trio recalls Codeine ("From the Sky," "Come Back In"), Sebadoh ("Heel"), and other indie-rock bands of yore, mixing loud-soft dynamics and flat-spoken vocals. A solid listen if any of these descriptors and references appeal to you.

Paper Petals, Solivagant
This prolific dark-ambient artist has released 10 albums in the past two years—and every single one of them is a gorgeous journey into the ethereal realms. Slap on some headphones and take a trip.

Duburban, Lost Horizons EP
The U.K. drum 'n' bass artist Duburban (aka Rob Wade) remixed Dacamera's "Playing the Long Game" for the Ypsi-based AGN7, but he debuts as an artist on the label with Lost Horizons. All four tracks feature the manic drums that define the genre, but the sonics Duburban lays over the beats are generally more serene. There's a soundtrack quality to the EP, and it's easy to imagine hearing its songs in a film or video game.

Stormy Chromer, 04/06/2024 - 10 Year Anniversary - Hamtramck, MI
The Ypsi jam band Stormy Chromer opened its 10th-anniversary show with a cover of Rush's "Spirit of Radio," setting the table for the rest of the gig, which is documented on this album. While Stormy Chromer doesn't sound anything like Rush, the band works in a similar realm, focusing on prog-centered guitar improvs as well as hook-filled rock tunes.

Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp.