2014-04-07
Ou was formed in Italy in 2012. The band's debut, PIsces Crises, is a busy disc with a whole lot going on. Seattle producer, Amy Denio, must have had her hands full with this one. There is ukelele, organ, a horn section, piano, bass, drums, kalimba, vibraphone, and glockenspiel all backing many voices. The whole band sings (as well as the producer!). It all comes together to form a vocal jazz sextet; but this isn't your parents' vocal jazz. What Ou makes is entirely different. There are unusual time signatures, punchy or whispery vocalizations, and odd instrumentation. Contemporary vocal jazz is one of my least favorite genres. Ou brings me into the fold.
Rebecca Ruth
McCOY TYNER
Quartet
ROBERTO FONSECA
Akokan
Yelena Eckemoff Quintet
In The Shadow Of A Cloud
Various Artists
Upstairs at Larry's: Lawrence Welk Uncorked
FOUR80EAST
Enroute
The U.S. Army Blues
Live At The Blues Alley
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