Now based in their home state of Connecticut, the three main members of the band -- singer Mitchell Linker, guitarist Jeffrey Norberg and bassist D. Rauh -- reunited last year after a short hiatus. They've just released a new five-song EP CD, "Neurotica," which showcases the uncanny song craftsmanship and complex vocal harmonies that have long characterized their sound.

"We started working on this new project, but it wasn't intended to be new Dent album," Linker says. "We each came to the table with a song or two, and as we started working on it, we realized how much fun it was, how much we missed the band, and how much better we were. So we became a real band again, and now we're at a point where we're more ambitious about it than we've ever been."

Part of their approach includes an actual marketing plan and a new Web site, www.dentmusic.com. "It's like a full-fledged business, which most bands are if they're serious about what they're doing," Linker says. "No one is out to do you any favors these days."

The Dent's previous stint in Ithaca was marked by an inability to connect with a wide audience used to jam and groove bands; it seemed no one ever really got what they were doing. "Even though we got some local airplay with 'Simple Girl,' we didn't have the single to lure people in," Linker says. "When I listen to that song these days, I realize how complicated it was, with all these key changes and tempo shifts. I think our new stuff is a lot less complex and more accessible."

The band is already planning to record a full-length CD this fall. "The new EP is on the lighter side, and it doesn't necessarily encapsulate all we represent," Linker says. "So we want keep that production quality but add more guitars to show a more rounded view of where we're coming from. I've missed rocking out."

Expect to hear some of the new songs at Saturday's show, at which Linker, Rauh and Norberg will be joined by a new drummer they've recently started working with. There's a cover charge for the 10 p.m. show. Call 272-1888 for more information.

Russo, Robinson release

Longtime local musicians Johnny Russo and Doug Robinson have been playing together for the past few years in settings as diverse as the Farmer's Market and formal Cornell events. Now they've captured their sound on a new CD, "Ithaca, Our Home," which they'll be releasing at a 6 p.m. show tonight on the Commons.

The CD contains several pop standards, such as "Lot of Living to Do," "Stardust" and "Mood Indigo," but there are also several originals written by Russo and/or Robinson. "Not many people are aware of Johnny's classical training, but that really comes to the fore on 'Princess Lament,'" Robinson says. "And we also wanted to spotlight Johnny's horn playing --we really captured the energy of his live sound."

The duo recorded many of the tracks in Robinson's home studio, which allowed him to spend hours orchestrating and arranging each track. The result is an impressive, timeless collection of American popular music. Visit www.watershed-arts.com to learn more.

Robinson and Russo's "East Hill Classic Jazz Band" will include banjo virtuoso Drew Frech and guitarist Pat Cosmo at tonight's show at the Center Pavilion, which is part of the Ithaca Summer Concert Series.

Hellecaster to give clinic

Will Ray, one of the world's most distinctive and talented guitarists, comes to town Friday to conduct a clinic hosted by Ithaca Guitar Works. A member of the Hellecasters, the instrumental super trio that also includes Jerry Donahue and John Jorgenson, and a solo artist who just released the new "Mojo Blues," Ray is known for his awesome string bending skills and humor-laced melodic lines.

Ray's distinctive style provides much fodder for his guitar clinics. "I normally play a bit over backing tracks, answer questions, play more, and answer more questions," Ray says from his home studio in Burbank, Calif. "I use slide rings and a b-bender, and people are curious about that stuff as well as my guitars and effects. When they run out of questions, I play some more."

Ray endorses slide rings and B-benders that are made by Hip-Shot Products in Interlaken. This weekend, he'll be visiting the factory for the first time since it moved east from its original California site several years ago. The clinic will take place in the DeWitt Mall Atrium Friday at 7:30 p.m. Cover is a mere $5. Call 272-2602 for more information.

More shows

There are several other cool shows around town this week, including Saturday's reunion of former local funk-rockers Nozmo King at Castaways. Some other possibilities include:

Tonight, Entrain comes to the Rongovian Embassy. The former GrassRoots Festival favorites, who hail from Martha's Vineyard, have just released a new CD, "Entrain Live Volume One: Rise Up." The band's influences range from rock, blues and calypso to jazz, funk and Zydeco. "The whole Entrain concept is everything goes, anything goes," says drummer Tom Major. Cover is $8 for the 9 p.m. show. Call 387-3334 for more information.

Friday, local jazzers Wingnut will perform at the Rongovian Embassy. "We've been taking a couple of different approaches to performing live, the difference being mainly in the instrumentation," says keyboardist Michael Stark. "The band has been delving deeper into the acoustic piano setting, as of late performing both original compositions, and some by such composers as McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Sun Ra. We have also done a handful of performances featuring the Hammond B3 Organ in which a funkier, groove oriented vibe takes place. It has been quite sometime since Wingnut has meshed these two approaches together for a night of multiple musics." There's a small cover for the 10 p.m. show. Visit www.wingnutjazz.com for more information.

Jim Catalano has covered the local music scene since 1992. He can be reached via e-mail at JimCat@aol.com. 'SoundOff' is published weekly in Ticket.

If you're in the mood to road trip this weekend, head down to Croton Point Park in Westchester County for the Great Hudson River Revival 2002. On the bill are local roots-rockers Donna the Buffalo along with folk and blues icons Richie Havens, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, John Hammond, Maria Muldaur, John Gorka, Dar Williams and many more. Tickets are $35 per day, $45 for the weekend. Call (800) 67-SLOOP or visit www.clearwater.org for more information.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Solas will be performing at the Night Eagle Cafe in Oxford this Sunday. A new 4 p.m. show has been added to the original 8 p.m. show, which might make it easier for out-of-towners to trek over to Oxford, which is about 75 minutes away. Advance tickets for either show are $25 and are available to reserve by calling 843-7378. Don't miss this chance to see the world's premier Celtic band in such an intimate setting. Visit www.nighteaglecafe.org for more information.

Monday, Tunnels comes to Castaways. The progressive jazz-rock band featured bassist Percy Jones of the British fusion band Brand X, drummer Frank Katz and MIDI vibist Marc Wagnon. The trio blends a variety of grooves and influences, including world music, rock, jazz and fusion, as it stretches boundaries of new music. "This maddenly creative, wild and sometimes experimental trio makes no bones about its desire to carry on the hardcore jazz fusion traditions of the risk-taking era of Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Tony Williams," writes Jonathan Widran in the All Music Guide. Check out www.buckyballmusic.com to learn more. There's a cover for the 9 p.m. show. Call 272-1370 or visit www.castawaysithaca.com for more information.

Jim Catalano has covered the local music scene since 1992. He can be reached via e-mail at JimCat@aol.com. 'SoundOff' is published weekly in Ticket.