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John Swana: Philly Gumbo Vol.2
by C. Andrew Hovan
It seems like a lot of up and coming trumpeters these days go for the bop stylings of Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw as their main influence. Far fewer look to players like Art Farmer or Kenny Wheeler for inspiration. That's what has made watching the development of Philadelphia trumpet man John Swana so fascinating over the years. While he has the chops needed to communicate in the high-octane language of be-bop, his tone and use of space suggest that ...
read moreJohn Swana: Philly Gumbo
by C. Andrew Hovan
It seems like a case of the big fish swimming in a small pond. So while Philadelphia native John Swana currently chooses to make his home in the city of Brotherly Love, it's clearly evident that this world-class musician could succeed easily in the Big Apple, the undisputed center of jazz activity in America. Taking up the trumpet at the age of 11, Swana was hooked on jazz after one spin of a Dizzy Gillespie record. Lucky enough to get ...
read moreBootsie Barnes & Larry McKenna: The More I See You
by Jack Bowers
What a genuine pleasure it is to hang loose and appreciate the warm and enticing sounds and impressive teamwork of Philadelphia tenor saxophone legends Bootsie Barnes and Larry McKenna, a couple of seasoned pros who blend together as smoothly as marmalade on toast. It has been said--more than once--that experience is the best teacher, that there's no substitute for experience, that--well, you get the idea. Between them, Barnes and McKenna have more than a century of musical experience at their ...
read moreJohn Swana & The Philadelphians: Philly Gumbo Vol. 2
by David A. Orthmann
The sequel to a memorable 2001 release, Philly Gumbo Vol. 2 consists of pleasurable hard bop by John Swana and a band of mainstays from the fertile Philadelphia jazz scene. Despite the familiar stylistic trappings, the music stands up to repeat listening for several reasons. The original material (nine of ten tracks) transcends the tired, derivative tunes often written in homage to masters of the genre. Swana's compositions, especially “Sid's Dilemma, “Three Of A Kind, and “Quasimodo's Uncle, are catchy ...
read moreBootsie Barnes: Bootsie Barnes: Boppin' Round the Center
by Victor L. Schermer
This CD featuring Bootsie Barnes and a group assembled for the occasion has one characteristic uncommon in an era of so-called 'smooth jazz,' rap singing, and canned music for every occasion from cinematically simulated inner city rumbles to drugs for erectile dysfunction. It really swings! It also 'bops around the center!' (I truly don't know what that means, but I like the phraseology. Forgive me for speculating, with a touch of humor, that it refers either to key changes or ...
read moreRobert "Bootsie" Barnes Quartet/Robert "Bootsie" Barnes Sextet: You Leave Me Breathless!/Hello
by Dave Nathan
Robert “Bootsie" Barnes has been a fixture on the Philadelphia jazz scene for years. He has a steady gig at Philly's 23rd St. Café and over the years, has worked with a number of the many jazz stars that city has spawned. He also has an appearance on the Bill Cosby show to his credit. Although a graduate of the Coleman Hawkins school for tenor, Barnes' playing leans toward the soul-jazz style of Gene Ammons, Willis Gater Jackson and Houston ...
read moreJohn Swana and The Philadelphians: Philly Gumbo
by David A. Orthmann
During a decade long association with the Criss Cross imprint, John Swana has produced an impressive aggregate of achievement, 15 discs in all, as a leader or featured sideman. On his own records, Swana usually adheres to the label's practice of utilizing a select pool of New York area musicians, ranging from young firebrands like Eric Alexander and Chris Potter, to respected veterans such as Kenny Barron and Mulgrew Miller. For his latest release,Philly Gumbo, the trumpeter alters the pattern ...
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