New Release: The Danny Petroni Blue Project, featuring Frank Lacy

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The Danny Petroni Blue Project featuring Jo Wymer & Frank Lacy at The Saint in Asbury Park (601 Main Street, Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712), Sat.3/29 9 pm. Sat Mar 29 Rock: Brody's Monster / The Blue Project and special guests. Danny Petroni - Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Frank Lacy - Lead Vocals/Trombone/Flumpet, Gary Oleyar – Violin, Gene Boccia - Bass, Calvin Jones - Upright bass on (Requiem for a Working man), John Drymon -, Piano/Hammond B3 Organ, Steve Kramer - Piano on “Cracker Jack” “Peanut Butter & Jelly” John P Allen - Drums, Dave Halpern- Drums on (Mouse in the House), Female Vocals, Jo Wymer on (I Changed my Ways), Backup Vocals on (Looking Good), Backup Vocals on (God of War, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Requiem for a Working man) Layonne Holmes, Ricky Collins, Katrina Harper.

(DPS Records)
Street Date February 4, 2014
Downbeats Editors' PICK/REVIEW"DOWNBEAT:

BY FRANK ALKYER - Downbeat Magazine
The Danny Petroni Blue

Project featuring Frank Lacy, The Blue Project (DPS Records) This album bills itself as the "Sound of Asbury Park." Bingo. Guitarist Danny Petroni has done the Garden State proud. Somewhere "The Boss" is smiling. Somewhere "Miami Steve" is smiling. Somewhere "Southside Johnny" is smiling. And blues-loving jazz heads everywhere will be smiling, too, when they hear this disc. Petroni created this project to provide a little bit of work for the musicians, engineers and studios of Asbury Park that suffered so badly in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

He assembled a star-studded New Jersey cast to perform here—from Gary Oleyar on violin and Gene Boccia on bass to Dave Halpern and John Allen on drums and many more. It's an eclectic blues stew with a sharp jazz edge. At the centerpiece of this excellent recording is a true surprise for jazz fans. Ku-umba Frank Lacy adds deep, cool vocals—not to mention amazing horn arrangements that compete with the best of the Miami Horns. The result is one of my favorite albums of the year, so far.

"I've Seen Everything" swings hard as a hysterical opening tune. The next track, "Tastes Like Chicken, " ain't far behind! "I've Changed My Ways" slides in as a beautiful ballad. "Peanut Butter & Jelly" delivers. "Mouse In The House" offers a sad look at the extermination business of love. And Petroni's beautiful, reverb-filled "Diminishing Returns" offers a touching conclusion to this 10-song set. Sandy couldn't take these guys out. It just spurred their artistry. They deserve a few minutes of your attention. Check them out.

A blues tone poem. The 10 original songs on the CD cover an overview of Blues genres from Big Band, Jazz/Rock, Country, Gospel, Chicago, Texas, delta blues inspired songs penned by Danny Petroni.

From Fletcher Henderson inspired big band 12 bar blues as tracks ("I've Seen Everything", "Taste Like Chicken"); to Retro Blues/Rock ("God of War') then onto the Delta/Gospel sound of "Requiem for a Working Man". The country Jazz texas line dance inspired song ("Cracker Jack") then the slow blues duet ("I've Changed My Ways') followed by ("Peanut Butter and Jelly") and the swampy Nola sound of ("Hey you're Looking Good"); the the narrative style minor blues ("Mouse in the House") and closing the journey with the solo guitar ("Diminishing Return")

Track Listing
1. I've Seen Everything 2:19
2. Taste Like Chicken 3:49
3. God of War 4:45
4. Requiem for a Working Man 5:40
5. Cracker Jack 5:00
6. I've Changed My Ways 6:11
7. Peanut Butter & Jelly 5:05
8. Hey You're Loooking Good 3:27
9. Mouse in the House 6:13
10. Diminishing Returns 3:53

"The Danny Petroni Blue Project" featuring Ku-umba Frank Lacy this record (CD) has been a labor of Love.

Super storm Sandy had just devastated the Jersey shore; towns in and around Tom Rivers and inland towns like Sayreville were heavily damaged.

Many musicians and music related business were down. Gigs cancelled, venues damaged, all music productions stopped in the immediate area.

Within a few weeks The "Danny Petroni Blue Project" was born.
If I could create a blues record, with original songs that I had been writing, employ local Musicians and use local Music Production impacted by Sandy... that would be something.

I contacted Frank Lacy, Gene Boccia, Gary Oleyar, Dave Halpern and John Allen and the rest is history. It has been a year since "The Blue Project" started and Sandy left us. The record is now finished and available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon.

"It has a country/jaz chill out feel to it maybe a little gospel thrown in there too. Great soulful vocals, superb tones It reminds me of Otis redding but it has a more modern edge. With the trend of skinny jeans and roughed up shoes." Reverbnation

"Classic rock opus from a set of old school musicians out of the BSW or Chicago mold. A touch of Zappa is included as well with the R&B style singer. Actually there are great horn charts, pro rhythm ensemble plus lots of 'stunt ' guitar taking dives & spins a la Vai or Frank himself." Reverbnation

Artist Bios
Danny Petroni (b. 1956, Trenton, New Jersey), is an American composer-songwriter-guitarist of Jazz, Blues, and Rock, as well as an accomplished guitarist in all of these styles. He has performed with the the jazz musicians Steve Nelson, James Spaulding, Johnny Griffen, Frank Lacy, Luther Thomas, and Tony Scott.

Starting guitar at age 13, he studied under master teacher Dennis Sandole of Philadelphia. From 1974 to 1977, Danny attended Rutgers University's Livingston College Jazz Studies program under a Pee Wee Russell scholarship.
After graduation, Danny studied at the American School for Music in Vienna, Austria from 1977 to 1978 and then spent several years in Europe. In Rome, Danny start working with the great clarinetist Tony Scott. In Italy he also performed with alto saxophonist Luther Thomas.

Ku-umba Frank Lacy (b. 1959, Houston, Texas) is an American jazz trombonist.

He earned a bachelor's degree in physics] before studying music at the Berklee College of Music, where he played with Branford Marsalis, Greg Osby, and Marvin Smith. Lacy then studied for his Masters degree at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. Following this Lacy worked with Henry Threadgill, Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, Dizzy Gillespie, Abdullah Ibrahim, Bobby Watson, David Murray, McCoy Tyner, and Lester Bowie. He also played in the Mingus Big Band and served as musical director for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

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