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| Blue Project - Danny Petroni, Frank Lacy, Malaika Lacy Nov.27-28 shows in NYC Notices from our last record "The Blue Project" 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. BY FRANK ALKYER DownBeat Magazine Editors Pick/Review Guitarist Danny Petroni has gone back in a way to some of the jump-blues and humor of Louis Jordan of the late swing era and created his own version of it-not an imitation, not a tribute, but an analog creation of his own. This on The Blue Project (self-released). It's a big band doing goofy-serious lyrics blues that feature some nice guitar wielding from Danny and Frank Ku-umba Lacy on vocals, trombone and something called the "flumpet"! There is some metal heat from Danny and a general high-spirits over-the-topness going on. It may not change the world but it gives you a rooted ultra-today jazz-rock take on it all. No, nothing bad to say to that. And Danny dedicates the album to all who struggle to get it back together in the NY-Metro-Jersey-Long-Island Hurricane Sandy debacle. That story still isn't over. The struggle keeps on going on. So thanks to Danny! Posted by Grego Applegate Edwards gapplegateguitar.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-blue-project-danny-petroni-blue.html As guitarist Danny Petroni explains it, The Blue Project, his band and its self-titled first release, began as a reaction to hurricane Sandy. Work for Jersey Shore musicians was sparse after Sandy's devastation: "Gigs cancelled, venues damaged, all music productions stopped in the immediate area." Petroni's idea was to create some work for local musicians with a locally produced blues record using his own original compositions. "The Danny Petroni Blue Project was born." "The whole package, the combination of horns and vocals, reminds me of the vibe of Joe Turner, the Boss of the Blues." By Jack Goodstein blogcritics.org/music-review-the-danny-petroni write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Jazz News :: home page |