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
BLUE MOON MARQUEE
BARE KNUCKLES & BRAWN
Mike Longo And The New York State Of The Art Jazz Ensemble
Live From New York
JUDY NIEMACK
Blue Nights
BOBBY WATSON AND THE LIVE AND LEARN BAND
Fronm The Heart
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Smooth Chill
Sidney Jacobs
First Man
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