Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Andy Rothstein: Voodoo Tone

298

Andy Rothstein: Voodoo Tone

By

Sign in to view read count
Andy Rothstein: Voodoo Tone
Andy Rothstein has been playing the guitar for twenty-five years, as a sideman in rock bands and as leader of Mary's Magnet. His current perspective, however, captures a wider range as he brings in rock, country and Latin music to his beat.

Rothstein's aim is well served. His dexterity and technique on the guitar blood the tunes. He lets melodies fly out and open and when he gets into the thicker textures, he uses feedback and chunky chords to coil and strike. But Rothstein also plays the acoustic guitar with a great measure of sensitivity seen to advantage on "#1. The country song slides in on the guitar and Link's vocals. The lyrics are wrapped in the sentiment that marks country music, but Link keeps it from being maudlin with his phrasing. Rothstein adds the icing with his melodic interludes before he switches to the electric guitar, adds rock riffs and takes the tune out.

Rothstein assimilates jazz, rock and even a lick of funk on "Brain Power. The arrangement is interesting, letting the elements sidle against each other and reverberate positively. Rothstein stays firmly in the groove whether it is rock or heavy metal, making the transition with facile ease.

Giant Steps gives the band the leeway to improvise. Rothstein shows enough creativity to keep it interesting as he nudges the boundaries and then delves back to the melody. The drum programming is another thing altogether, being not very perspicacious to the needs of the composition. Rothstein wanted to keep the music on this recording pure and simple within the larger framework of fusion. In this he succeeds well enough.

Track Listing

Brain Power; If Not Now, Then When; Voodoo tone; #1; Retro Fuso; Absinthe; Mojito; Giant Steps.

Personnel

Andy Rothstein: electric and acoustic guitars; Tony Senatore: bass; Lou Petto: drums; Link: vocals (2, 4); Tom Timko: alto, tenor and baritone saxophones (1, 7); Steve Jankowski: trumpet (1, 7); Bob Nelson: keyboards (8); Frank Fagnano: organ (4, 6); Tom Gioia: drum programming (8): Vinnie Zummo: rhythm instruments on track 8.

Album information

Title: Voodoo Tone | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Vermicious Knid Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.