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Vinnie Zummo: Jazz and Pop Tale Daze
By"Power" opens the set with brassy funk, featuring a brash organ part, tight drums and plenty of burning lead guitar. Nothing about the performance sounds loose or unplanned, including the chromatic harmonica solo (which might be unexpected elsewhere, but it has become a Zummo trademark). "Pocket Bop" has a bossa nova feelanother Zummo perennialand benefits from acoustic bass playing by guest David Katzenberg. "Hair Scro" immediately calls Steely Dan to mind: smooth, tuneful jazzy pop. Zummo has the kind of guitar chops heard on Steely Dan records as well. "Prosody" goes into the ethnic side of Weather Report, with the harmonica making an especially effective appearance and adding to the lilting groove.
"Jazz and Cocktail Days" is a vocal feature for Vinnie and his wife Janice Zummo. It declares that "New York City is a very different world," but there is also plenty of space for guitar and organ solos. "Bassford Manor" is a reggae tune, demonstrating Zummo's versatility and love of different grooves. "Always Mean To Me Blues" gives off a strong Delta blues vibe, with acoustic guitar, LP noise, and lead vocals from Big Belly Lightcap (whoever that is). The closing track "Ballade Pour Jeff Beck" is a splendid homage to the great guitarist, including evocative whammy bar work. A lovely ending to a diverse collection of music. It features Zummo's virtuosic guitar playing but is also a showcase for his skills as a multi-instrumentalist and arranger.
Track Listing
Power; Pocket Bop; Hair Scro; Prosody; JB Fonkee; My Stuff; Jazz and Cocktail Days; Bassford Manor; Mask; Vaz/Mat; Always Mean To Me Blues; Ballade Pour Jeff Beck.
Personnel
Vinnie Zummo
guitarAdditional Instrumentation
Vinnie Zummo, all instruments (guitar, chromatic harmonica, keyboards, bass, drums); David Katzenberg, acoustic bass; John Rogers, drums; Janice Zummo, Big Belly Lightcap: vocals; Matty Amendola, drums; Erik Deinstadt, Jeff Allegue, Scott Wills: backup vocals.
Album information
Title: Jazz and Pop Tale Daze | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Vaz Music
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