Paul Bollenback - Double Vision (2000) [SACD]

Another U.S. jazz group that had to go to a European jazz label to get released on disc. Hadn't heard of Bollenback, but organist Joey DeFrancesco is a top name in U.S. jazz today. A studio in Maryland was used & the original analog tapes were mixed & mastered to DSD in Amsterdam. Bollenback plays in a strongly swinging single string electric style which mates perfectly with the electric sound of DeFrancesco's B3. Four of the 9 tracks are his own, & the shift to more pop songs rather than all jazz standards is shown by his opening treatment of Stevie Wonder's I Am Singing, as well as his closer: a tune from Hootie & the Blowfish. The lyrical version of Strayhorn's Lush Life is also an album highlight. Bollenback's guitar is recorded up quite close & the B3 bass end has as strong impact. By the way, if you don't own an SACD player as yet, the CD layer of this hybrid disc provides really superior sonics on its own.
~John Sunier


Tracks:

1. I Am Singing
2. Open Hand
3. Danny
4. Breaking The Girl
5. Reflections Of You
6. Lush Life
7. After The Love Has Gone
8. Thank You Mr. Hancock
9. Let Her Cry

Personnel:

Paul Bollenback,
Joey DeFrancesco,
Ed Howard,
Terri Lyne Carrington,
Jeff 'Tain' Watts.