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Jazz Mandolin Project: Jazz Mandolin Project
ByThe album opens with the upbeat "Eleanor Rigby"-laced opening track, "The Country Open," featuring deep, throbbing bass lines by Stacey Starkweather. Next, comes the Jazzy "Monkey Blake," which is driven by Gabriel Jarrett’s "percussives." "Mandoneon" cascades from a Venetian head into a more Iberian/Latin American body with a few light down-home country strains wafting through the middle. Despite a long, repetitive break which hearkens to the conclusion, it is an interesting and enjoyable track. Together with the tribal opening for "Nozani Na," "Mandoneon" demonstrates the group’s international flair and understanding of worldly music. "Ballad For Trio" is a dreamy, light sleepwalk which contrasts well with the swirling solo-sprinkled funk-jazz set "The Gourd" and the peppy "Milestones in the Sunshine," which features a Vaudevillian, mandolin-as-ukulele opening and hints of Sondheim’s "Maria."
Though "Lithograph" may be well-titled as a slightly-askew and hurriedly-ended replica of another piece, "The Opera" is similarly well-named in its lyrical mixture of various styles of music and musical interaction.
Throughout the album, Masefield’s techniques range from gentle picking patterns to full strumming. Starkweather and Jarrett are likewise able to competently change from subtle backing to driving accompaniment. Of special note is Starkweather’s occasional use of effect pedals and Mellotron to shape and transform his otherwise solid and straight-ahead bass sound. Though Masefield’s clean, sharp fret work may sound like Metheny-esque guitar, and though his international flair may remind one of such popular stars as Paul Simon, has has a refreshing brightness which sets his sound apart. It is this difference which makes this album so exciting and original. It is this sound which woke my ears and my mind up to the idea of the mandolin as a vibrant and legitimate participant in popular music. Though some of the pieces may not be considered "jazz" (despite the wide range of the genre), the entire album is undeniably catchy and fresh.
Track Listing
1. Country Open 2. Monkey Blake 3. Mondoneon 4. Ballad for Trio 5. Opera 6. Nozani Na 7. Gourd 8. Milestones in the Sunshine 9. Contois 10. Lithograph
Personnel
Jazz Mandolin Project
band / ensemble / orchestraAlbum information
Title: Jazz Mandolin Project | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Unknown label
Comments
About Jazz Mandolin Project
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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