69.00 PLN

CD:

Nr kat.: MAC1067
Label  : MackAvenue (USA)

Junction finds the Hot Club of Detroit expanding its sonic horizon and refreshing its musical vocabulary. Still retaining its core lineup of reeds, two guitars, accordion, upright bass (and no drums), now, for the first time, HCOD is joined by a vocalist: French musician Cyrille Aimée, a native of Django Reinhardt’s hometown and third-place winner of the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition. *** Following up It's About That Time, Night Town and the eponymous 2006 debut Hot Club of Detroit - Hot Club of Detroit expands its sonic and compositional horizons with Junction. Retaining its original lineup of reeds, two guitars, accordion, upright bass and no drums, this is the band's fourth release for Mack Avenue Records. There are personnel changes, however, and for the first time, the Hot Club of Detroit is joined (on three tracks) by a vocalist: French musician Cyrille AimĂ©e, a native of Django Reinhardt's hometown and third-place winner of the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition. Junction's sound is at once vintage and boldly new, rooted in the legacy of Django Reinhardt but also the sensibilities of Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, John Zorn and even the rock band Phish. Far from a traditional gypsy jazz ensemble, Hot Club of Detroit (HCOD) proves itself a versatile modern jazz group, with a unique acoustic-electric sound that surges past expectations and genre boundaries. "A lot of bands that model themselves after the Hot Club of France are now working with drummers, or percussion of some sort," says HCOD rhythm guitarist Paul Brady. "We never have. And by doing that it forces us to think creatively about what we can do without it. How can we approach odd meter, how can we approach certain grooves? Regardless of what a drummer can add, that absence to me is interesting and different." Unfortunately, Junction comes at a difficult time. HCOD bassist Andrew Kratzat and his fiancĂ©e were both seriously injured in an auto accident in July 2011, and are currently on a long road to recovery. "This album is a dedication to both of them," declares Brady. "It's been tough for us, musically but also emotionally," adds HCOD accordionist Julien Labro. "Andrew is like a brother, a family member. But we're still hopeful, and one day I'm sure he'll be back to playing." Honoring Kratzat's example, bassist Shawn Conley brings stellar musicianship to Junction. Another new face is saxophonist Jon Irabagon, winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and member of the acclaimed punk-jazz quartet Mostly Other People Do the Killing. Andrew Bishop, also on reeds, makes appearances on three tracks, increasing the band's power and timbral variation. (Family obligations required Carl Cafagna, the group's original saxophonist, to step aside.)