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The Jost Project: Can't Find My Way Home
ByThe four members of Philadelphian quartet The Jost Project have long histories in jazz but the driving force behind their debut recording is the rock and folk music that they were weaned on. Their declared aim is to draw the baby boomer generation of rock fansold hippiesin to the orbit of jazz. Of course, jazz and rock have been bedfellows since guitarist Larry Coryell, vibraphonist Gary Burton and trumpeter Miles Davis' 1960s forays into the fusion, but The Jost Project is essentially a jazz quartet that applies the physics of swing and bebop to rock and pop tunes.
To jazzify Aerosmith's "Walk This Way"the only track post-1975may sound like pastiche but it's anything but; Vibraphonist Tony Miceli's arrangement employs subtle textures from double bassist Kevin MacConnell on arco and deft harmonies between vocalist Paul Jost and vibes, as the quartet glides effortlessly from swing to bebop. Nor is there anything contrived about Jost's boppish scatting, which bristles with the unmistakable energy of in-the-moment improvisation. Jost is an all-rounder; his gravely soul delivery can sound like a cross between singers Otis Redding and Pino Daniele, and he imbues singer John Sebastian's "Daydream" with the Delta blues.
The challenge in tackling such famous and melodically well-defined tunes is to make them sound fresh and to this end the quartet succeeds beautifully. Jost's arrangements carry a bold personal stamp, though one applied with a deft hand. John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "We Can Work it Out" seduces with a hushed Marvin Gaye-esque vocal. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's "Bridge over troubled Water" smolders moodily, revolving around a delicate bass and vibraphone riff; Miceli's solodriven by drummer Charlie Patierno's bustlereally burns. Nobody is playing it safe here.
The Steve Winwood/Blind Faith classic "Can't Find My Way Home" is given a bluesy twist and features an extended solo from Miceliimpressive throughoutand Jost on harmonica and scat. The singer's perfect pandeiro impression brings a samba vibe to Donovan's "Sunshine Superman," but walking bass recalibrates the quartet's compass towards full-on swing. McCartney's balladic "Maybe I'm Amazed" is sandwiched between two of rock's most iconic numbers, Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" and Iron Butterfly's "in A Gadda Da Vida," which are transformed by Jost's soulful delivery and Miceli's dancing improvisations.
The Jost project's invitation to rock fans to get their jazz-head on is a persuasive one; equally, these fine arrangements and the scintillating playing might just entice a few dyed-in-wool-jazz fans the other way across the divide.
Track Listing
Walk This Way; Daydream; We can Work It Out; Can’t Find My Way Home; Bridge Over Troubled Water; Sunshine Superman; Kashmir; Maybe I’m Amazed; In A Gadda Da Vida.
Personnel
The Jost Project
band / ensemble / orchestraTony Miceli: vibes; Paul Jost: vocals, harmonica, guitar; Kevin MacConnell: double bass; Charlie Patierno: drums.
Album information
Title: Can't Find My Way Home | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Dot Time Records
Comments
About The Jost Project
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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