Ari Shagal
(vocals, keyboards); Ferima Faye (Vocals); Matthew Lomeo (vocals); Joe Davi
(guitar); Pat O’Leary
(bass); Eric Halvorson (drums); also Kenny Washington (jazz vocals); Nydia Mata
(congas, bongos); also others on trumpet, trombone, saxophones, vibraphone.
(Review by Ann Alex).
This is a fine début album from Ari Shagal’s band The Summarily Dismissed. Most of the songs were written by Ms Shagal, who hails from New York
The
lyrics concern relationships; the bias against people who live on Jersey Shore;
the stock market; and amusingly, wanting to be taller:
As I sublimely shuffle up and down the avenues
A bid for bold urbanity
in D’orsay shoes
I call myself a femme fatale, but other folks refuse
and say I'm just ‘cute’
’cause I'm not tall and resolute.
Each of the three vocalists has a distinctive voice and style, and every word is beautifully clear.
Ms Shagal's the jazziest voice, Ms Faye - a natural strong soprano and Matthew Lomeo sounds very like Stevie Wonder.
Jazz elements
appear with the solos, but not on all of the 11 tracks, so jazz influence is
limited, although the tunes certainly swing.
Oozing Awkward has a jazzy sax solo and a rock style guitar solo. Shade Walking is virtually a blues,
written in a more modern poetical structure, Bull Market has busy, buzzy instrumentation to represent the stock
exchange on Wall Street, and Jersey Babes
includes a satisfying solo on plunger-muted trombone which sounds like a
low-pitched human voice.
Lance is
appealing for more CD reviewers, who get to keep the CD’s – I'm so glad I can
keep this one!
'nuff said.
The Summarily Dismissed: To Each is released on the Laureniac Song label this month.
Ann Alex
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