Hi everybody. This is my solo project and I'm very happy
to launch it this year with the Live CD Threshold. This
band features all original compositions by me plus a few
cool covers of Hendrix's Voodoo Child and the Beatles Lucy
In The Sky with Diamonds. It features Eric Matrienthal on
sax, Melvion Davis on bass, Eric Mckain on percussion and
Randy Drake on drums. I hope to take this band on the road
sometime in 2005 so stay tuned to this site for the touring
dates.
Threshold
— John Novello, Holographic 2004
Review by Jedd Beaudoin - jbeaudoin@f5wichita.com
Hammond B3 master John Novello (Mark Isham, Chick Corea)
has received plenty of acclaim for his work with the bass/drum/organ
trio Niacin, known for its forced-entry licks and smoldering
solos but here, onThreshold, we hear Novello's sensitive
side on tracks such as "Lament" and "Because
Of You," but also witness his talent for tasteful jazz
compositions ("Discovery") and the old slow groanies
("Bitchin' Blues").
It's Novello's taste, his
ability to find exactly the right spot to lay notes and
not strictly his chops that has garnered him a reputation
as a hot player in both the jazz and R&B worlds and
his taste is first and foremost here. In fact, rather than
delivering a series of keyboard-blowing tunes that simply
spotlight his very capable and exciting black 'n' white
acrobatics alone, he's often just as content to let saxophonist
Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea, Rippingtons) shine as he does
such as on "Bitchin'" and a sweat-inducing take
on Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child," which is finished
off with hot, primal percussion from Eric McKain and down-and-dirty
drums from Randy Drake. (Del Atkins adds bass to that piece,
though Melvin Davis holds down the low end elsewhere.)
That tune is one of the album's
finest but there are plenty here and we have to hope many
more to come from this underrated musician, composer and
producer.
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