GINETTA’S VENDETTA

FUN SIZE

Kickin’ Wiccan Music

Ginetta M., pocket trumpet/vocals; Danny Walsh, tenor/soprano saxophones; Jon Davis, piano; Marcello Pellitteri, drums; Beden Bullock, bass.

This is Ginetta’s sixth CD as a bandleader.  She is recognized by UNESCO as a jazz ambassador.  Internationally acclaimed and consistently touring, Ginetta M. is proud to brag, she spreads jazz across the world.  This multi-talented trumpeter is an alumna of North Texas State University. That college is quite famous for turning out some of the best jazz musicians in the business.

Ginetta M. opens with a tune named for her, penned by Phil Baker. However, I immediately noticed the song closely resembles “Night in Tunisia.”  Track #2 is a blues titled, “Blues for Pop-Pop” and, it’s a crowd pleaser.  Each bandmember is given a spotlight to improvise and to show off their brilliance.  I love the tone on Ginetta’s pocket trumpet. The way she swings on the first three tunes celebrates her talent and dexterity.  She and Danny Walsh, who plays saxophone, have a special musical bond. The two often supply tight horn harmonics during these arrangements, each also exhibiting expert musicianship in the solo department.

On “There Will Never Be Another You” Marcello Pellitteri makes a powerful statement on the trap drums. The ensemble swings this one with gusto. Ginetta M. also sings on some of the songs.  Her vocal style is distinctive but begs an acquired taste. I prefer her awesome talent on the pocket trumpet.

Ginetta M.’s rendition of “Black Orpheus” opens with a lovely piano solo introduction by Jon Davis.  When the rest of the rhythm section joins in, they take the tune on a Latin excursion.  Ginetta M.’s warm sound on her horn floats above the cha cha arrangement.  Walsh brings his bravado to the forefront on tenor sax. In her early years, Ginetta M. worked with a number of Latin bands playing Calypso, Salsa and Merengue music. So, Latin music is both familiar to her and appreciated.  Back in the day, she spent a successful Carnival season working in Trinidad with her then female horn section called “Amazon Brass.”

Ginetta M. has embraced the position of jazz ambassador for many years playing pocket trumpet, singing and composing music.  She also played extensively with the Holmes Brothers.  They referred to her as their honorary Holmes Sister.  She has appeared on the Middle East version of MTV and was a featured artist on the Jazz Fest in Jamaica for several years.  She and her group also headlined New York’s Hudson Black Arts Festival, then jetted to Las Vegas where she received rave reviews.  In 2020 she was spotlighted as an outstanding female pocket trumpeter with her band at the Alabama Women in Jazz Festival.

Ginetta M. divides her time between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and New York State, but her touring schedule takes her all over the world.  She is one of a very few pocket trumpet bandleaders and perhaps the only female musician leading a band and playing pocket trumpet.  She’s a tiny lady with a big talent, standing five feet tall and shapely in leopard print or sparkle plenty.  Her stature inspired this album title, “Fun Size,” as well as the size of her horn.

At the beginning of her music career, the little lady with the huge sound played regular sized trumpets. Then ‘Old Arthur’ crept in (arthritis), messing with her physicality. It grew more difficult for her to play a regular sized horn.  That’s when she turned to the pocket trumpet.

“It takes a different blow to play this little trumpet, and it takes practice.  It took six months of constant playing to learn how to play it correctly. You have to blow harder.  So, therein lies the disadvantage of the pocket trumpet,” she explained.

Although she includes one holiday song, “Christmas Time” this is an album for all seasons.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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