Release Date: October
16, 2015
Label: Cakewalk Records
There is nothing like a good jazz album to give you a
renewed appreciation for the art and fascination that music can bring. With
that thought Project Grand Slam seems to always come through for me.
Their
new release Made In New York is a
diverse outing giving the listener a good look at all the facets of their
talent in one recording. If you like jazz with or without vocals it is all here
on this one album and some live cuts to close the curtain and sweeten the pot
as well.
“New York City Groove (Instrumental)” illustrates the
broad strokes this band can paint on the musical canvas. The opening track is
the vocal version featuring Kat Robichaud and the closer being the
instrumental. PGS makes sure that their audience gets the best of what they
have to offer and it is not illustrated any better than on that particular
track.
“Fire,” a Jimi Hendrix classic for the ages, is
transformed (see the steamy video provided with Kat on vocals) and was also
featured on the Rate The Tracks site for your streaming pleasure. There are some
listeners that will think otherwise I am sure but the band puts it all together
and makes the track their own. Putting your own stamp on a time tested classic
is not an easy task. This is why I believe this band has the talent and range
to do just about anything.
“Boston
Common” is a superb instrumental jazz track; it just does not get much better.
This is modern jazz that takes the foundation laid down by the forefathers of
the genre and cranks up the heat to take it all to another level. It reminds me
of why I was spell bound by this music when I first discovered it.
Made In New York is
not only a testament to the great talent in the band, it is a tribute to jazz
that all music lovers will find an appreciation for. Music like this has soul,
character and culture all wrapped up into one tight package that is hard to
resist.
4/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Fire, Boston Common, New York City Groove (Instrumental)
Tracks:
1.New York City Groove (feat. Kat Robichaud)
2.The Winner
3.Around the Horn
4.The Gift (Juliet's Song)
5.Fire (feat. Kat Robichaud)
6.Boston Common
7.Because She Said So (Recorded "Live" At the Blue Note Nyc)
8.Cakewalk for Debra (Recorded "Live" At the Blue Note Nyc)
9.New York City Groove (Instrumental)
Tracks:
1.New York City Groove (feat. Kat Robichaud)
2.The Winner
3.Around the Horn
4.The Gift (Juliet's Song)
5.Fire (feat. Kat Robichaud)
6.Boston Common
7.Because She Said So (Recorded "Live" At the Blue Note Nyc)
8.Cakewalk for Debra (Recorded "Live" At the Blue Note Nyc)
9.New York City Groove (Instrumental)
Keith “MuzikMan”
Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder
October 14, 2015
Review
Provided By Write A Music