Halfway to Mellowtown is the debut album from Austin-based Cento Threeo, a Jazz / Americana trio led by guitarist and composer Don Cento. The album was recorded by Stuart Sikes (White Stripes, Cat Power, Loretta Lynn) at Church House in the band’s hometown with Cento producing. Halfway to Mellowtown is being released June 19 by SecondBridge Records on 12” LP vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming services.
Cento Threeo marks Don’s return to Jazz and represents his most personal artistic statement to date. The project began as a casual outlet for reimagining ’60s and ’70s FM classics through an atmospheric, jazz-adjacent lens. What started as a covers project quickly evolved as Cento reconnected with his love for jazz and began writing original compositions in earnest.
The album was cut live in two days with Don on guitar, drummer Norm Bergeron and Phil Spencer on bass. All eleven numbers – mainly Cento originals – are rooted in composition but make ample room for improvisation. The trio’s sound merges the sophistication of late-’90s jazz guitar records and classic ’60s post-bop with the textural sensibilities of Americana and indie rock – a unique fusion born from Cento’s diverse musical background.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the eerie blues-waltz “Make the Silence Louder,” a slowly simmering number that lopes along in easygoing yet mysterious fashion. Filled with unexpected, occasionally sneaky phrases and meter changes, the tune is best enjoyed while sipping a glass of wine and savoring its clever journey.
Don Cento describes the inspiration and process behind the tune:
“Make the Silence Louder” was one of the first tunes I wrote for this project. I feel like it perfectly captures the vibe we were after and set the tone for the record. It’s one of our favorite tunes to play, but the odd phrases and sneaky meter change still make it a challenge to improvise over.
LISTEN:
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