BONKING IN THE PARK. The Sue Orfield Band features Orfield on tenor, Mike Schlenker on guitar and keys, Randy Sinz on bass, and Dave Schrader on drums.

    Describing your own music as somewhat “schizophrenic” may not be the standard way to promote a new album, but Sue Orfield doesn’t really adhere to the standard agenda. A new instrumental release from The Sue Orfield Band, Bonk!, proves this.

“There are so many things I like,” says Orfield. “Trying to put things in a box only takes away from finding something new.”

Orfield’s eclectic style comes from a curiosity for anything and everything in the world of sound.

“I grew up listening to straight up country, started getting into jazz in high school,” said Orfield. “I’m learning to love as many different types of music as possible. I want as broad a spectrum as I can get.”

Orfield definitely succeeds in obtaining a broad spectrum on Bonk!, which will be officially released on her own indie label, Red Cedar Records, September 20.

Cool, jazzy melodies twist with everything from calypso to funk and bluegrass to create analbum you could certainly pop a bottle of wine and dance to. The thirteenth track even features a version of a Hungarian folk song.

“I can’t categorize it,” says Orfield. “I like it. I hope other people will like it, too.”

The Sue Orfield Band features Orfield on tenor sax as well as Chippewa Valley musicians Mike Schlenker on guitar and keys, Randy Sinz on bass, and Dave Schrader on drums.

Menomonie born and raised, Orfield attended college at Lawrence University in Appleton. She moved to Seattle in 1990 at the pinnacle of the grunge movement. A local staple since returning to the Chippewa Valley in 2005, Orfield has been featured on between 40 and 50 albums. Though she has recorded about two albums worth of original music, Orfield has not previously released her own work.

“The bands I play with are usually blues, jazz, or rock,” said Orfield. “The Sue Orfield Band is my playground; I can experiment and try things I wouldn’t normally try.”

Orfield wrote 11 of the 13 instrumental tracks on Bonk! with Schlenker writing Little Something Like This.

“I bring songs to the band,” said Orfield. “I have an idea of the groove, but we work it out together. I couldn’t do any of this without them.”

And Orfield is one busy lady having played about 18 shows this past August with The Sue Orfield Band and other local acts such as Catya’s Trio, Rada Dada, and Lucy’s Creek as well as groups from the Twin Cities.

The Sue Orfield Band has kept busy this past summer with recurring shows at The Mousetrap, The Red Parrot, Music in the Park, and the Owen Park Blues Series. They recently spent early- to mid-August performing with Oregon blues singer Ellen Whyte.

    Though the new CD is currently on sale at Orfield’s shows, the official CD release show for Bonk! will be held September 20 at Eau Claire’s House of Rock. Show goers will receive $5 off a CD with admission. The acoustic duo of Bill Boles of South Farwell and Tim Coughlin will open the show, with the funk covers of Duncan Ninja rounding out the lineup. To check out more Orfield, visit SueOrfield.com, MySpace.com/SueOrfield, or SueOrfieldBand.com.