Excerpts from the CD liner notes:
This collection of original compositions suggests one concept which flows in the manner of an extended suite. However, I believe that there are five key ingredients which add to the uniqueness of J'Azure's sound. They are: (1) the use of timbre and tonal contrasts, (2) the use of tone painting. (3) the fusion of folk, rhythm and blues and elements of classical" chamber music with jazz, (4) the exploration and expansion of form, and (5) the development of a group (cohesive) sound. Through this combination of elements, the listener will experience music which was well-crafted, rehearsed, and refined.
...The strength of J'Azure is the uniqueness that each individual musician brings into the group concept. In many instances in jazz or other musical styles, the lack of contrast among the individual musicians yield predictable and boring music. In this collaboration, Doug, Dan, Kevin and Tim defy boundaries. The result is Great and Creative music.
From a review of the CD in the The Independent:
Chapel Hill-based J'Azure is a jazz band that cooks up a warm, full-bodied brand of chamber music that'll remind cognoscenti of those great drummer-less combos of the past. Imagine the classic configuration of, oh, the Jimmy Giuffre Trio—reeds, guitar and bass— enhanced with blues hues and a smidgen of funk-lite. That's J'Azure: compact, accessible, fun. Bassist Doug Largent and guitarist Kevin Van Sant hum like a well-tuned engine, pushing the breathy solos by saxophonist Tim Smith with gentle but unwavering propulsion... It's the improv-minus-percussion feel that makes J'Azure special—and bolstered by Smith's blustery reeds and windy flute, this is a band I can't wait to check out live.
All of the song clips are in Real Audio format. For the Real Audio files you will need to have the free RealAudio Player (version 4.0 or newer) installed. A 14.4 bps or faster modem is necessary (28.8 or higher reccommended). Click on the links above to hear the music.
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