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North American Jazz Alliance CD ‘The Montreal Sessions’ – Canadaby Rob Howard |
The North American Jazz Alliance are Kenny Kotwitz (accordion), Steve Hobbs (arrangements, vibraphone), Greg Clayton (guitar), Dave Laing (drums), Alec Walkington (bass), and John Labelle (vocals). Montreal has long been known for its night-life, and its jazz music and musicians. The North American Jazz Alliance are modern exponents of a long held tradition, and this new recording, ‘The Montreal Sessions’, is a jazz accordion CD that represents the tradition very well indeed. This CD – available via Amazon - is contains standards given a jazz treatment, plus Astor Piazzolla’s ‘Oblivion’, performed in typical Argentinian tango style. Accordionist Kotwitz leads the band through Cole Porter’s ‘Just One Of Those Things’, Neal Hefti’s ‘Cute’, etc, in a swinging style. Montreal-based vocalist John Labelle is heard to good effect on ‘Close Your Eyes’, ‘Nobody Else But Me’, and ‘Dancing In The Dark’. Tracks: Just One Of Those Things; Close Your Eyes; Cute; Oblivion; Angel Eyes; Nobody Else But Me; Delilah; Charade; Dancing In The Dark; It Could Happen To You; Only Trust Your Heart; That’s All |