Music
Press
By LINDSEY SEBASTIAN
Published: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Fusing traditional and contemporary music, Bam-Jazz will leave its musical footprint on Spartanburg's Jazz on the Square on Friday.
Bill Averbach leads the band on trumpet and vocals, which are similar to the soulful voice of Dr. John. Averbach has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, performances and recordings.
Joining Averbach are guitarist Adam Sztyber, a former resident of New Orleans; guitarist, bassist and multi-instrumentalist George Hoar; and drummer Chris Garges. Garges is known as one of the area's finest recording engineers.
"I am fortunate to have linked up with such perceptive players.... they are some of the best musicians around. it is obvious, when they play that they enjoy their work tremendously. Nobody could ask for better artists for support." Averbach said.
Bam-Jazz performs classic and modern jazz, blues, and worldbeat with a strong New Orleans kick. The band's music is heavily influenced by artists such as Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. It also mixes boogie and swing music with sophisticated ballads of Strayhorn, Ellington and Gershwin. Their mambos engulfed in Brazillian sambas, their reggae, Carribbean ska and calypso sounds and their Cajun and New Orleans-influenced blues just might entice the audience to dance.
"It's a real wide world out there with a variety of great music," Averbach said.
Bam-Jazz was formed in 1997 while Averbach worked on a casino ship in the Gulf of Mexico. There, he met ex-Las Vegas musicians who suggested he form a band. The result was Bam-Jazz, a group that continues to expand as more musicians learn about it.
Bam-Jazz will feature cuts from its latest album, "Carolina Moonshine" that has a mix of original and traditional jazz, blues, and worldbeat music. - Spartanburg Herald
Discography
Carolina Moonshine CD - May 2008
Photos
Bio
Bam-Jazz has some of the finest players in the area and trumpeter/vocalist Bill Averbach brings it home with vintage Swing, Jazz and Jive from the 20’s and beyond. When called, the flavor of New Orleans’ spicy Cajun influenced Blues and Mambo takes center stage surrounded by Brazilian Sambas, and the sounds of Reggae and Caribbean Ska and Calypso.
With sizzling horn and vocal selections and a finger-poppin’ rhythm machine driving the band you cannot sit still to their New Orleans and Texas Gulf Coast flavor. Their seething and sophisticated ballads of Strayhorn, Ellington and Gershwin beckon you to glide across the dance floor with your baby in your arms.
Influenced heavily by artists such as Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, Clifton Chenier, Dr. John, and Louis Prima this very versatile group plays that jumpin’ jive so reminiscent of zoot suits and two-tone shoes. In addition you can get that Cajun gumbo, Ballads, Latin and Caribbean, Motown and Beach, to the most contemporary Jazz and Blues sounds.
As part of a grant project from the Arts & Science Council, Bam-Jazz recently released their first CD, Carolina Moonshine, which is available throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. The recording features several original pieces and some Jazz and Blues standards performed live in the unique style of the band. The recording has received reviews praising the band’s “...innovative and modern approach to the ‘traditional’ music while preserving the essential elements of the style
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