“What if the tried-and-true pop music triumvirate of guitar, bass and drums were replaced by clarinet, tuba and banjo? No need to ponder the dramatic ramifications of this hypothetical question any longer. Chris Trapper, frontman for Boston's Push Stars, has just released a rather wonderful solo record that fuses his melodic pop sensibilities with unexpected backing from Boston based Dixieland and swing experts the Wolverine Jazz Band"--Chris Blagg, The Boston Herald
“... the just-released Gone Again is a brave, ambitious departure for the songwriter. Working with Boston's noted trad/Dixieland jazz ensemble the Wolverine Jazz Band, Trapper sets his vivid, deeply melodic songs against a backdrop that rather poignantly evokes images of New Orleans. It's stirring stuff and reveals Trapper to be an artist still forging into new territory"-- Jeff Meirs, The Buffalo News
Singer and songwriter Chris Trapper of The Push Stars is back with a new CD. The latest disc boasts an impressive and eclectic collection of 11 new, original tunes. Gone Again combines Chris' vocal stylings with a New Orleans-inspired jazz backdrop provided by Boston's own Wolverine Jazz Band. Chris was honored when the band expressed an interest in his tunes and immediately set aside time to rehearse and record. Chris hopes Gone Again will introduce these wise and experienced trad jazz musicians to today's younger pop music buyers.
“Trapper's taste for old-time music has found a new niche in Gone Again, his self-released second solo album that features the Wolverine Jazz Band, a crack combo of Dixieland-style players from around New England who bring brassy big-band sound to Chris' light, lovelorn songs about Boston girls, jukebox lights, and old-fashioned dreams"--Jonathan Perry, The Boston Globe
For many years, throughout Boston and southern New England, the Wolverine Jazz Band has been entertaining devotees of traditional and Dixieland jazz. Their musical contribution to Chris Trapper's Gone Again is remarkable and instantly memorable. The CD was recorded 'live' without computer technology and is infinitely better for it. Chris happily asserts “the music on Gone Again breathes, and has a pulse."
“Chris Trapper's new disc Gone Again came to me as a welcome treat this past week, featuring as it does the New Orleans-esque stylings of the Wolverine Jazz Band. Trapper's pop leanings, which are so boldly in the forefront in his usual outfit, the Push-Stars, are here couched in the sensitive and swinging accompaniment of banjo, tuba, clarinet, trumpet and trombone. A lot of front men who choose to go native in the trad jazz world hew to covers, but Trapper admirably sticks to his original guns here by composing all the tracks"--Steve McPherson, Pulse of the Twin Cities
Critics scramble for the superlatives when describing Chris' musicianship and over the years he has been honored with numerous Boston Music Awards and a Platinum Record for his songs on the Great Big Sea release Sea of No Cares. Chris is a founding member and the lead singer for nationally acclaimed pop-rock band The Push Stars. The New York Times calls the band 'classic pop perfection.' When on hiatus from The Push Stars, Chris writes, records and tours in support of his solo efforts. Additionally, Chris' tunes can be found on major motion picture and network TV soundtracks including There's Something About Mary, Say It Isn't So, ER, Malcolm In The Middle.
Chris Trapper's new CD Gone Again has the Boston-based singer-songwriter sounding like a New England Yankee in Leon Redbone's court--or perhaps Dylan in Dixieland. As frontman for The Pushstars and as a solo artist, Trapper has long proven himself a powerful, insightful songwriter. But this new album has Trapper waking up in a jazzy dream thanks to The Wolverine Jazz Band. This is the coolest thing he has ever done"--Frank DeBlase, Rochester City Newspaper
“There was a time when jazz was pop music, which seems to be the idea behind Chris Trapper, formerly of the Push Stars, and his album Gone Again (Starlit), where he's set his contemporary pop-tunesmanship against the Dixieland stylings of the Wolverine Jazz Band, replete with banjo, clarinet, and brass. If some of the results are “When I'm 64"-ish, that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you've got Trapper's skill with a rhyme and hook"--The Boston Phoenix
Produced by Brad Young (Dow Brain, Underground Productions). Musicians include John Clark (clarinet, saxophone), Jeff Hughes (cornet, trumpet), Tom Boates (trombone), Ross Petot (piano), Jimmy Mazzy (banjo). The Loft at XM Satellite Radio has already add the track 'Jukebox Lights' to their New Music Magazine radio hour.
Chris continues to tour in support of his solo release. Confirmed performances include stops in Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, St. Paul, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York City and more. Gone Again is available for sale on the official artist website, at all shows or by visiting CDBaby.com or Amazon.com.
http://www.christrapper.com
For more information contact All About Jazz.
