GARDYN JAZZ ORCHESTRA

VINYL BREWS

JCGarner Music

Jon C. Gardner, alto saxophone/composer/arranger/executive producer; Jack Ozment, piano; Dan Hanrahan, guitar; Isaac Strader, bass; Sean J. Kennedy, drums. SAXOPHONES: Jacob Kaplan, alto sax; Jud Aaron & Jordan Graef, tenor saxophone; Louis Kugelman, baritone saxophone. TRUMPETS: Michael Cruse, Daniel Wright, Derek Dillman, Andrew Esch, Jimmy Boyle & Marcell A. Bellinger. TROMBONES: Travis Hill, Seth Dowdell, Rachel Slifer, & Brett Slifer on bass trombone.

I was surprised to discover that the Gardyn Jazz Orchestra created an entire album to celebrate beer. Each rollicking, boisterous, and joyful track was inspired by the award-winning beers from the Von C. Brewing Company located in Norristown, PA.  The orchestra opens with “Dinero de Sangré,” a Latin arrangement that fills my listening room with happy energy. Dan Hanrahan is dynamic during his swinging guitar solo.  Jud Aaron answers him on tenor saxophone and Sean J. Kennedy spurs the production forward on trap drums.

All the songs on this album are composed by alto saxophonist, composer and arranger, Jon C. Gardner. This is a great repertoire of music played by a band of excellence.  “By the Stoney Creek” swings from branches weighted beautifully with the blues. Handclaps enhance the piece and encourage their ‘live’ audience to join in. I played this one twice and enjoyed the lively audience with their hooting and howling approval.

Each song sounds like it could be a jazz standard.  Gardner is a talented composer, offering rich melodies and arrangements that give these awesome band members an opportunity to strut their stuff.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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