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
TOM GAVORNIK
A Long Time Ago...
CLAYTON CAMERON AND THE JAZZ EXPLOSION
Here's To The Messengers: A Tribute to Art Blakey
MADEiLINE PEYROUX
Half the Perfect World
SONNY FORTUNE
You and the Night and the Music
ELISABETH KONTOMANOU
Back to My Groove
HIROMI’S SONICBOOM
Time Control
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