bebop spoken here: Album review: Greg Yasinitsky Yazz Band

From This Moment On

August
Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.
Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).
Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Album review: Greg Yasinitsky Yazz Band - New Normal

Back in 2018 I was impressed by Yasinitsky's recording - Yazz Band - in fact it was one of my Big Band CDs of the Year. After first listen, this one could also be in with a shout although, despite there being 16 names listed, it is actually a collective grouping with the various units ranging from 7 - 9 pieces and, truth to tell, due to the pandemic some weren't even there at all but recorded their part at home which, in some cases was Los Angeles, Baton Rouge and Bologna in Italy. Hence the title, The New Normal.

However, so seamlessly have the various components been mixed and assembled by David Bjur in the Washington State University Recording Studio that it is impossible to tell. Bjur also played bass on three of the tracks

All eight numbers are originals composed by leader Yasinitsky who also plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone.

He blows fine swinging tenor solos on six of the tracks, some meaty baritone on another as well as soprano on Blues For Brecker. That's three Brecker tributes in three days! The latter track includes some bluesy guitar from Gabe Condon as well as fiery trumpet from Vern Sielert.

Most of the players solo at various times with both Torres and Glenn getting rich trombone sounds on, respectively, The New Normal and Hangtown Fry.

Young is the featured tenor on Blues for a King - that's Martin Luther King - and he solos impressively on alto on Diva. The various pianists, bassist and drummers all have their moments of glory but, apart from the leader, this isn't about individuals, it's about individuals getting together to produce a fine swinging album under these strange conditions which are indeed the new normal.

Lance

Available now - try/buy.