Some Diverse New Music - From Jazz to Funky Soul

We've recently received several new CDs and here's the lowdown. 

Its definitely time to get your boogie on when listening to T Bird and the Breaks - Never Get Out of This Funk Alive. This is one I'm dancing in my seat; whether driving, at work, at home; this is just a classic fun CD that exudes 70's soul and funk. Just listen to the title track or "Spread the Love". Plus, this is a 10-piece band - wait until you hear the sounds emanating from deep down in the tracks: percussion, keyboards, horns. And gotta love "Your Nasty Love".  Can't believe this sound comes out of Austin - forget about Americana - give me Funk.


Reed Turner got our attention with his new EP Side One: See How Far I Get. His songwriting immediately reminded me of Joe Pug, but he distinguishes himself through a unique finger picking style. His study at the Berklee College of Music has paid off, because this artist is talented. And this talent is immediately on display on the first track, "Beware the Hand". And "let's Roll" showcases some clever songwriting. And the last track, "Acrobats & Soldiers", is just powerful. I can't wait for Side 2.

At first listen, I didn't care for Big Trouble from The Dang-it Bobbys. But that opinion was a result of sitting in traffic for three hours trying to go 30 miles.  After multiple listens, I really came to appreciate the musicianship of this duo, Kris Bauman and guitarist Luca Benedetti. I think it started at "I Love You"; love the composition. Can't seem to categorize the sound, there's some Pop, some Bluegrass ("Whiskey Strut"), plenty of vocal harmony, and even a Tex-Mex sound in "Big Trouble". My favorites were the two instrumentals ("Roadkill Jerky" & "Whiskey Strut"), maybe because I'm not completely sold on the song writing - although the initial track, "Middle Ground", is clever. Yet, these are two to watch considering how nicely they can play their respective instruments.


Finally, I've been really digging the latest from the Joe Deninzon Trio, Exuberance. I listen to this during the work hours, and I tell you, the day flies by.  The trio consists of violinist Joe Deninzon, bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson. On occasion there's some gypsy jazz influence, but with Deninzon switching from electric to acoustic violin, also some classical and at times, americana-ish fiddling. In this CD, Bowen's bass plays a noticeable role whereas Benson's guitar sometimes lingers too silently. The guy can play - turn him up - just like the beginning of "Sun Goes Down". And listen to the end, "The Tourist" could be my favorite track.

Marshall Ford Swing Band & Joe Deninzon Trio

While being buried in with snow here in the Mid-Atlantic; we've been listening to a lot of music. Two that we'd like to share are from the Marshall Ford Swing Band and the Joe Deninzon Trio. Each disc has put a smile on our face during this week of shoveling snow.

The Marshall Ford Swing Band is a five-piece ensemble based out of Austin, Texas that play old time Western swing in the tradition of Johnny Gimble, Bob Wills, and Hank Thompson. In fact, the band is partially fronted by the grand daughter of Gimble, Emily Ann Gimble - who also contributes the piano. Greg Harkins (guitar) is the other frontman and along with Jeremy Wheeless (guitar), James Gwyn (drums) and Kristopher Wade (upright bass) - round out the band. And from the very first track of "It's About Dam Time", I've enjoyed their music. There is a little of everything in this CD, mostly swing, but also some old time country, some jazz, and even some Texas blues. No two songs are similar and is the unique CD that could only come out of Austin - definitely not from corporate Nashville. The CD starts with straight western Swing and Lyla Lou - and if this song doesn't wipe a grimace off your face - something is wrong. They slow it down with some old school country in Roy Lanham's Trouble, Trouble. Love the alternating vocals. Next is a county waltz and the first original piece - The Barroom Waltz - a place where there's not a care in the world. Next are covers of two famous songs Irving Berlin's Marie and grandpa Gimble's You're Why. Their interpretation of Old Joe's Hittin' the Jug sounded straight from another Austin band - The Belleville Outfit. The remainder of the CD is the same - some originals - some covers - some instrumentals - but all fun songs to listen to, especially Pickles n Tomatoes. And I love Gimble's vocals in I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire; some old school jazz vocals. In sum, this CD made shoveling snow a lot less painful.

Ever since listening to the latest from the The John Jorgenson Quintet, I've been in a jazz mood and a short sample CD from Joe Deninzon Trio came just in time to satiate my appetite. The CD is Ellipsis and should be available sometime this month. From reading Deninzon's bio I learned that he is considered the Jimi Hendrix of the violin - obviously very well respected. But then I realized that Deninzon is the leader of the rock-funk band Stratospheerius and I became even more interested in this disc. The first track (Bodhissatva) immediately grabbed my attention as Deninzon's violin sounded more like a fiddle than a classical violin - and combined with the Trio's bass and guitar - was an awesome arrangement. The second track, Nuages, was the complete opposite - slow and classic - and here Steve Bensen's jazz guitar really worked well with the violin. Great finale in that song as well. Jitterbug is more playful with a strong bass solo from Robert Bowen. And finally, Sun Goes Down starts as almost something out of a Western, but then female vocals ensued which produced a classic jazz sound. I'm looking forward to the full CD.