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Professor Aucoin & the Jazz Scientists: Mystified
ByThe session comprises eight vocals, all by Aucoinwith harmony on a couple by Karla Harrisand two instrumentals, "One, Two, Three" and "Loose Change," wherein saxophonist Sam Skelton oversees the melodic essentials. Aucoin's voice is amiable and unassuming, along the lines of Bob Dorough, Mose Allison or Giacomo Gates. His lyrics traverse a similar path but without the trenchant wit or sarcasm of a Dorough, Allison or Gates. So far, Aucoin has borne comparisons to Prima, Dorough, Allison and Gates, all of which are admittedly unfair to Aucoin, as he is not trying to emulate any of them.
Aucoin is trying to entertain in his own way, using Mystified as his stage of choice. When appraised on that basis, the results are better than those assigned for comparison's sake. However, it must be noted that the album's jazz ingredients, such as they are, remain below the borderline of acceptable. Professor Aucoin's vocals, even though grounded in blues and funk, lean more toward pop than jazz, and the backup group has a lot to do with bolstering that impression, hammering out a heavy two-beat backdrop that would be right at home on contemporary pop radio. To give them their due, Skelton, drummer John David, guitarist Trey Wright and keyboardist Randy Hoexter do lend solid support, rudimentary as it may be. In the end, they and Aucoin are handcuffed by a garden-variety enterprise that might have benefited from the addition of sight to its sound, as in a nightclub or concert hall.
Track Listing
Mystified; I’ll Play My Song for You; Don’t Worry Me; One, Two, Three; Happy Man; Georgia Smile; Nursery School Blues; Loose Change; We’re All Insane; Do It All Again.
Personnel
Tim Aucoin
bassSam Skelton
saxophoneRandy Hoexter
pianoTrey Wright
guitarJohn David
drumsKarla Harris
vocalsAlbum information
Title: Mystified | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced
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Professor Aucoin & the Jazz Scientists
Album Review
Jack Bowers
Mystified
Self Produced
Tim Aucoin
Sam Butera
Louis Prima
Keely Smith
Karla Harris
Sam Skelton
Bob Dorough
Mose Allison
Trey Wright
Randy Hoexter