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
FRANK KIMBROUGH
Air
The Hot Club of San Francisco
John Paul George & Django
IVAN "FUNKBOY" BODLEY
PIGS FEET & POTTED MEAT
PEARL DJANGO
Modern Times
BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA
SONGS FROM LONELY AVENUE
DON BYRON
“Do the Boomerang,” the Music of Junior Walker
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.