OU

Pisces Crisis

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   

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Jazz

  • reviewed 05/2007

    STEVE SWALLOW with ROBERT CREELY
    So There

  • reviewed 02/2008

    BEN ALLISON AND MAN SIZE SAFE
    Little Things Run the World

  • reviewed 06/2010

    THE STANLEY CLARKE BAND
    THE STANLEY CLARKE BAND

  • reviewed 09/2007

    DIANA KRALL
    From This Moment On

  • reviewed 03/2008

    Various Artists
    Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars

  • reviewed 11/2007

    THE CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET
    Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy - Cornell 1964

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

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.