SWINGING GUITAR SOUNDS OF YOUNG AMERICA
With special appearances by:
Joe Jackson - Graham Maby - Gary Burke - Joy Askew -
The Global Chant Choir - Shawn Pelton - Barry Miles -
Terry Silverlight Will Lee - Marshall Crenshaw and more!
or at CD BABY http://www.cdbaby.com/
or directly from Vinnie Zummo Music emailvazmusic@aol.com at 212-961-1713
To say Vinnie Zummo is eclectic is understatement. He is one of the few people who is as delighted to hear music by The Shaggs or Paul Revere and The Raiders as he is hearing John Coltrane, Death Cab For Cutie or Arnold Schoenberg.
Swinging Guitar Sounds Of Young America is an homage to Vinnie's many influences and marks the first time all sides of his playing can be heard on one album. He's well known for his quirky soloing but on this album, he takes it to new heights of musical schizophrenia. His loving tributes to George Harrison's unique slide style on the songs Fab Gear, Ringo, and Without You Here will bring a smile to any Beatle fan's face.
His drumming on the song Ringo is so dead on U can almost see the real Ringo in your mind's eye swaying back & forth in that unique Ringo way. Vinnie plays drums on many of the tracks. The song Kool Bop, a free form guitar drum duet, is supposed to be kind of an imaginary encounter between Elvin Jones & a John Scofield / Pat Martino genetic clone.
A big fan of all three Vinnie the song is his tribute to them.
The CD also features his accordion playing on SPJ and Waffles as well as his languid chromatic harmonica solo on Quantes Vezes. U have never heard an album like this before.
The transition from track to track is sometimes startling but it all kind of works together somehow to make up a cohesive album.
VZ plays most of the instruments but has some special guests on several cuts. Joe Jackson plays a burner of a solo on SPJ . Barry Miles & Terry Silverlight play scathingly on the song Retro Fuso. The song really captures the early fusion mojo from the late 70's early 80's. Graham Maby and Marshall Crenshaw add some Beatley vocals on Fab Gear.
Gary Burke, Joy Askew, Will Lee, Mike Morrealle and more all add their unique talent to the CD.
Every cut on SGSOYA is radically different than the one that precedes it. A Beatle like song is followed by a bebop guitar/drum duet, followed by a country pickin song, Jeff Beck like blues, Beach Boys ballad, Earth Wind & Fire deep groover, bluegrass mandolin pickin' tip, etc... The songs sound remarkably like the groups they are supposed to honor. (Fab Gear sounds like an undiscovered rhythm track left off a Sgt. Pepper era Beatles LP. ) Many times though, the songs manage to branch out into unique territory. The Earth Wind & Fire tribute EWF is similar to their kind of groove but it features a fretless guitar vocal unison melody which is decidedly un -Earth Wind & Fire- like!
The Cream tribute song Take The Cream featuring heavyweight players Graham Maby and Shawn Pelton is so similar to a late 1960's era live Cream track that U will start to get flash backs but it too veers off into a unique place. Those of U who are hard core Cream fans will fall over laughing when they hear the introductions at the end. Graham Maby does the vocal and he outdoes himself here!
Wilson Beach has a Beach Boys flavor and features a stunning accapella perfomance by Graham with a Jeff Beck flavored guitar line from Vinnie.
Most songs on this album pay homage to artists who have shaped my music: Beatles, Beach Boys, Elvin Jones, Earth Wind & Fire, Cream, Jeff Beck, John Scofield, Ringo Starr, Pat Martino, Bob Wills, Charlie Christian, Freddie King, ... The list could go on forever. I've peppered the songs with their little trademarks plus some unexpected twists.
On Fab Gear the intro is not real studio chatter. I assembled it sound by sound to resemble a faux Beatles session and the piece is riddled lovingly with Beatle touches.
SPJ & Take The Cream were recorded live Guerilla style. No rehearsal. Just a quick talk through and one take. I love the energy this created. Joe Jackson contributes a burning Hammond organ solo on SPJ as well.
In fact, most of my solos were first takes. Kool Bop, EWF, Photograph, So Relaxed... all first takes. Some editing, but first takes.
Without You Here is for my Mom who we lost recently. Moments after we wrote the song, we recorded a rough vocal & knew we'd never get a more emotional take, so that's what you're hearing. The vocal rough. It's the only time we ever sang the song. If you've ever suffered great loss, we hope U get some comfort from it. I originally meant it to sound like a Beach Boys song but it turned into what it became. This cut has my favorite guitar solo I've ever played.
For Aloo Bobbily, I sent ruff mp3 guides out & got vocal mp3s via e mail, from fans and friends all over the world to create a “Global Chant Choir. Over 80 voices!
I dont think anyone has ever assembled a choir from emailed mp3s before.
On Retro Fuso, I was lucky enough to get Barry Miles and Terry Silverlight to play with me. This is a HUGE thing for me as their groundbreaking Fusion work thrilled and inspired me.
Ringo deals with my obsession with Ringo Starr's playing. More Beatle touches abound. WIll Lee and Frank Agnello from the Fab Faux, were nice enough to add some backup singing here. Check out the Beatle touches in the end.
My tastes in music are really varied and this CD is meant to show many sides of my playing. I hope U enjoy it and can hear the fun I had in making it. It was written as an expression of love and admiration for the artists that are emulated here.
Peace, VZ
Last year Vinnie produced and directed four guitar demo videos for Steinberger Guitars that feature his wide ranging styles. View them at: http://www.steinberger.com/multimedia.aspx
Check out Vinnie's site at: www.vinniezummo.com
Back to Bands >>
|
