| What They're Saying... |
| Relix Magazine (On Percy Hill Live) -- Shortly after Percy Hill�s 2001 Jammy for �Best Studio Album� they went on a nebulous, pseudo-hiatus. They reunited in fall 2002, returning core members Nate Wilson, Aaron Katz, Joe Farrell and John Leccese. Wilson rearranged their material and bolstered the band nucleus with nine additional players (backup vocals, guitar, horns, and percussions). As testament, this disc hurls the stereo-typical jamband knocks out the win-dow: the vocals of Farrell and Katz are smooth and the band�s classy, compelling songs are polished efforts on par with that of their influences like Gabriel, Simon and Sting. The subtle punchiness of the horns adds a fuller dimension to �Chrissy Reid� and �Shining on Creation,� while Wilson�s nasty clav propels �Sun Machine� and Anastasia Rene�s bad-ass belt-out drives �Skyline.� While the output is extremely tight, it lacks the live-ness and some of the impro-visational wizardry that was late �90s Percy Hill (remember Geminatrix?)--Jackson Goldfarb |
| Rolandsplace.net -- After Color In Bloom, I had to try this out. It (Percy Hill Live) was released in the late fall of 2003, and was taken from a live performance in New Hampshire last year. There are a few cuts from Bloom, but there are a few new songs here, such as "Shining On Creation". This song may sound like a religious tune upon first listen, however, I believe that it is simply an ode to creation in and of itself. The songs here are all enhanced by a backing horn section as well as background singers. One of whom, Anastasia Rene, can belt it out with the best of them. She really lets it loose on "Skyline". "Can I get you to rock with me now?" she says before the tune, and that's exactly what she does. Since this is a live recording, you can hear the band and the crowd having a great time, and it shows in the music and the quality of the band's playing. Guitarist, Joe Farrell's songwriting and singing gets some spotlight here with "Shining On Creation", "After All', and "313". Drummer Aaron Katz does most of the vocal duties here, and Nate Wilson's keyboard expertise is once again on full display. This is a fun band to listen to. Give them a try! |
| KATRINA: ONU, SUCCESSO PER CONCERTO RACCOLTA FONDI ITALIA (ANSA) - NEW YORK, 2006 12 APR - Ha riscosso un notevole successo, ieri sera a New York, il concerto di musica tipica di New Orleans organizzato dalla missione italiana presso l'Onu per raccogliere fondi destinati alle vittime dell'uragano Katrina. La sala del comitato economico e sociale (Ecosoc) delle Nazioni Unite, che a Palazzo di Vetro ha ospitato il concerto, era piena ed i ritmi indiavolati della 'New Orleans Restoration Hall Jazz Band' hanno fatto ballare in modo insolitamente scatenato centinaia di diplomatici e rappresentanti delle organizzazioni non governative (Ong). Il concerto -una iniziativa personale dell'ambasciatore Marcello Spatafora- e' stato presentato da uno storico conduttore radiofonico americano, 'Quiet Storm' Vaughn Harper, con una profonda voce baritonale. Prima della Jazz Band, si sono esibiti cantanti come Anastasia Rene' e Melissa Thomas (alias Ms. Melsoultree), oltre al pianista Anthony Evans. I fondi raccolti andranno alla fondazione 'Give Them a Hand' (diamo loro una mano), per una serie di progetti a New Orleans (la citta' piu' colpita da Katrina) e nella Repubblica Dominicana. |