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 This recording brings together the popular New England
traditional jazz banjoist and songster Jimmy Mazzy and the
respected tubaist of the famous Black Eagle Jazz Band, Eli
Newberger in an unusual recording format that succeeds beyond our
highest expectations. Fans of Jimmy will delight in the quality
of the sound which displays his enormous talents more clearly than any
of his previous recordings. And Eli's supporting phrasing and
tone is caught on (CD) as never before.
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Record Label: Stomp Off Records 1109
Total Time: 75:00
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Tracks on
'Shake It Down'
| 1. Shake It Down [2:52] | | | 2. Jelly Bean Blues [4:52] | | | 3. Tia Juana Man [2:27] | | | 4. Prelude No. 3 [3:08] | | | 5. I Ain't Got Nobody [4:44] | | | 6. Goodnight, Angeline [3:14] | | | 7. Lina Blues [2:24] | | | 8. Breeze (blow My Baby Back to Me) [4:37] | | | 9. The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise [2:38] | | | 10. When You Wish Upon a Star [3:38] | | | 11. Chicago Breakdown [3:10] | | | 12. Song of the Wanderer (where Shall I Go?) [3:08] | | | 13. Dapper Dan [2:27] |  Preview | | 14. Blue Evening [4:13] | | | 15. Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine [3:21] | Preview | | 16. Put 'em Down Blues [3:40] | | | 17. Strut Miss Lizzie [2:37] | | | 18. Do De O Do [4:08] | Preview | | 19. At the Christmas Ball [4:58] | | | 20. Moan, You Moaners [3:31] | Preview | | 21. S'posin' [5:13] | |
Reviews:
IAJRC Journal, Fall 1999, George Borgman:
Dual review of:
Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger: Shake It Down (Stomp Off CD1109)
M 'N' M Trio: Halfway To Heaven (Stomp Off CD1319)
TMazzy has a unique singing style that displays fervor, passion,
and a love for the tunes, and at times he gives a little shout
that has been compared, perhaps inaccurately, as similar to the
rebel yell used in the Civil War, but it would probably be better
to term it the Mazzy shout. Some listeners compare Mazzy's
singing to that of black blues singers, but it is more like that of
white singers from Appalachia, whether singing folklike tunes or
the blues. No matter what it might be called, Mazzy's vocalizing,
with the support of his wonderful banjo playing, is superb and
exquisite, like a well-cut diamond, wheter he is singing "Jelly
Bean Blues," "Tia Juana Man," "I Ain't Got Nobody," "Goodnight,
Angelin," "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise," "Song of
the Wanderer (Where Shall I Go?)," "Dapper Dan (The Sheik
of Alabam')" or any of the numbers on Shake It Down, 13 of
which were recorded and released by Stomp Off in 1986 and the
remainder added 10 years later for this CD.
On Halfway to Heaven, one of the better renditions is that of
"Don't Forget to Mess Around (When You Do the Charlestion)," with
Mazzy providing a great vocal and taking part, as he scats, in a
fine exchange between himself and the tuba, with Muranyi
doing his stuff on the clarinet. Mazzy and Muranyi are great on
a vocal duet on "I Double Dare You," from 1937, followed by
outstanding clarinet solo work and an emotional vocal solo with
the Mazzy shout. On "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal
You," from 1931, Mazzy and Muranyi do a superb vocal duet, with
some tantalizing scatting by Mazzy, and they both display their
abilities on their instruments for a very exciting rendition of a
tune that was recorded by Louis Armstrong twice, Red Nichols,
Jack Teagarden, the Mound City Blowers, Fletcher Henderson's Connie's
Inn Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Tampa Red and Georgia Tom, and Louis
Jordan. Judy Garland and Gene Kelly sang the 1950 tune "You
Wonderful You" in the movie Summer Stock, and here Muranyi sings
and Mazzy scats it quite delightfully in duet. Mazzy sings
and Muranyi scats on "Tain't Nobody's Bizzness If I Do," from
1921, which was recorded by Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Frank
Froeba, and Fats Waller. And Muranyi takes an outstanding vocal
on "Sonny Boy," which was introduced by Al Jolson in the film
musical The Singing Fool in 1928 and subsequently sold a million
Brunswick records; and Newberger takes one of his better solos on this
tune.
On "So Little Time (So Much to Do)," Mazzy displays quite
adequately his ability to sing a ballad with feeling, and Mazzy
gives it his all vocally on "Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan)" and
"Irish Black Bottom," both tunes from 1926. Muranyi sings "Dark
Eyes" a la Wingy Manone, with Mazzy playing a balalaika-like
accompaniment on the banjo. Two of the rarer tunes on Halfway to
Heaven are "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" and "Jazzbo Jenkins"
with Mazzy doing justice to the vocal, as usual, on both of
them.
These two CDs are highly recommended, especially for fans of the wonderfully unique singing style of Jimmy Mazzy.
The Mississippi Rag, July 1998, Ted des Plantes:
Dual review of:
Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger: Shake It Down (Stomp Off CD1109)
M 'N' M Trio: Halfway To Heaven (Stomp Off CD1319)
The idea of listening to an extended CD that mainly features a banjo
player who sings, along with a tuba player, would probably seem less
than intriguing to most traditional jazz followers who are used to the
volume, variety and instrumental interplay of larger groups.
Surprisingly, Shake It Down by banjoist/singer Jimmy Mazzy and tubaist
Eli Newberger is a gem of an album, packed with musically fulfilling,
entertaining performances and a stimulating program of good but seldom
heard songs and melodies from the ragtime and early jazz eras, plus a
couple of surprises from non-jazz sources.
Mazzy as a banjoist is a melodic virtuoso who avoids the clattering,
noisy excesses one often connects with the instrument. As a singer,
whether fervently shouting the blues (as on "Shake It Down") or
sensitively crooning (as on "Blue Evening"), he always projects a
personalized sense of character and conviction. With a style redolent
with idiosyncrasies yet minus any sense of phony affectation, the
sincere passion of his vocals grabs and galvanizes the listener.
Newberger's imagination and technical facility on the tuba allows him
to accompany Mazzy in a way that not only provides suitable bass lines
but also simultaneous interplay with the banjo. He has many fine solo
moments here as well, but certainly his high point on the album is his
self duet (accompanying himself on piano without overdubbing or other
recording tricks) on George Gershwin's "Prelude No. 3," which as a
composition is little more than a high falutin' classical music
version of the blues, but rendered quite attractively here.
Together Mazzy and Newberger vary the routines of their performances,
keeping things fresh. Even the old warhorses like "The World Is
Waiting For The Sunrise" receives an imaginative treatment.
The first two thirds of this CD was recorded ten years ago and
released on an LP album. The last portion was recorded recently and
includes a couple of guest appearances by clarinetist Joe Muranyi, who
turns up as a full fledged member of the M 'N' M Trio (Mazzy,
Newberger, Muranyi) album Halfway To Heaven.
Adding Joe Muranyi to the mix with Mazzy and Newberger creates many
more possibilities, arrangement-wise, and they take full advantage of
the opportunities. Muranyi is a musician who has absorbed little bits
from the styles of many, many great clarinetists from the history of
pre-bop jazz to create his own whole, original style. Facile,
imaginative and often exciting, yet always fitting in with the group,
he never uses gratuitous and unnecessary technical displays to
impress his audience, relying instead on musical substance.
Highlights on this album include "Don't Forget To Mess Around (When Yo
Do The Charleston)," which features Mazzy's shouting vocal and a hot
instrumental chase sequence, the lyrical "So Little Time (So Much To
Do)" with its sensitive clarinet, plus the earthiness of "Sweet Girl"
and "Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair," once again featuring Mazzy robust
vocals.
Joe Muranyi joins in on some vocals, sometimes dueting or trading scat
with Mazzy, which contributes positively to the overall spirit of
these selections. He is the featured vocalist on a few numbers. He
performs with able stage acumen but utilizes a few mildly irritating
mannerisms (an exaggerated vibrato, for one) that cause him to suffer
in comparison to Mazzy. He's a first-rate clarinetist but at best an
ordinary singer.
Fortunately, the really good chemistry created between these three
players and their joyful yet substantial music during this lengthy
album (partially recorded in concert, part in studio) dominates
everything.
No Votes have been recorded
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| Performers |
Jimmy Mazzy (bj, voc)
Eli Newberger (tu. 1985 & 19)
Released in 96
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List Price: $16.97
Our Price: $14.95
You Save: $2.02 (12%)
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