Guitarist, composer and educator
JIM WITZEL has long enjoyed the “organ trio” format in jazz
(Hammond B-3 organ, guitar and drum set) as both a listener and as
a working guitarist. In his second album, FEELIN' IT, he puts his
own spin on those great recordings of the 50s and 60s (up to the
present day) with a project comprising four standards, three of
Witzel's originals and a well-known pop tune.
Witzel’s
debut release, Give and Take (1993), featured some of the
top jazz musicians on the scene, including Ernie Watts, Russell
Ferrante, John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson, Ralph Penland, and Kim
Stone. With no rehearsal and working from Witzel's hand-written
charts (all original compositions except for Jim Hall's “Young One”
duet w/John Abercrombie), the group was able to record the entire
album in two sessions.
It's
been quite some time since Witzel released Give and Take,
mostly due to his teaching commitments as Professor of Jazz Guitar
Studies at both San Francisco State and Santa Clara Universities
and a busy gigging schedule as both a sideman and leader.
FEELIN' IT is a showcase for Witzel's straight-ahead,
modern jazz compositions that reflect the mid-sixties’ Blue Note
influence of such players/composers as Wayne Shorter, Herbie
Hancock and others. Attracted to their lyrical,
accessible style, he calls his player inspirations the Great 8,
which include Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall,
George Benson, Pat Martino, John Abercrombie, and Pat Metheny.
The
standards on the album feature the organ trio, which comprises
Witzel on guitar and two great musicians based in Northern
California, BRIAN HO on the Hammond B3 and JASON LEWIS
on drums. Jazz writer Andrew Gilbert has said, “Brian Ho, rising
jazz star. These days, Ho is one of the region’s most promising
young jazz organists,” while Lewis is an in-demand drummer who has
performed with top names like Gary Burton, James Moody, Mark
Murphy, Paul McCandles, Norma Winstone, Larry Coryell, Regina
Carter, John Handy, and Kurt Elling, among many others.
The
trio performs a swinging, uptempo rendition of “Softly as in a
Morning Sunrise” and, inspired by the Sonny Rollins and Jim Hall
version, the band performs their own inventive take on a calypso
version of “If Ever I Should Leave You” from Camelot. Witzel
was drawn to “The Old Country,” composed by Nat Adderley, because
although it sounds like a minor blues, it is actually a
straight-ahead standard. The trio also performs the
Lennon/McCartney hit “Norwegian Wood” as a spacious, dreamy ballad.
Witzel
changes pace on the standard “I Loves You Porgy.” Recorded a couple
of years earlier, Witzel was in the studio laying down guitar
duets, and decided to include this piece on FEELIN’ IT.
The tune features Witzel playing both lead and rhythm guitar.
Witzel
asked tenor saxophonist DANN ZINN to join the trio on Witzel’s
own compositions. Zinn is a renowned reed player who has appeared
on over 100 albums as a leader, soloist, and/or sideman. He has
worked with Joe Henderson, Taylor Eigsti, Terri Lyne Carrington,
Jeff Tain Watts, Freddie Hubbard, and many others.
Zinn
is featured on the opening track and title tune, “Feelin’ It,” a
bouncy straight-ahead jazz tune with an energetic beat. Witzel
wrote “Beyond Beijing” after returning home from a tour in China. A
bandmate captured Witzel and his trumpet player jamming on a train
from Beijing to another city several hours away. Although no one in
the band spoke Chinese and no Chinese national spoke English, the
language of music overcame any cultural barriers, and everyone
ended up having a great time. Witzel composed “Ms. Information”
inspired by Wayne Shorter. The tune is a medium tempo, hard
swinging number.
Although
Jim Witzel has an extensive resume as a sideman, he is not widely
known outside of Northern California. Although he has been flying
under the radar for far too long, his highly accessible playing and
compositional talents on FEELIN’ IT will certainly
garner new fans who are interested in organ/guitar/sax bands or
anyone who likes fun, toe-tapping yet lyrical music.
ABOUT
JIM WITZEL
Witzel
grew up in the northern California town of San Rafael. He began
playing guitar at the age of 12 and began studying jazz guitar in
high school with well-known Bay Area teacher and performer Dave
Smith.
He
spent 10 years in Los Angeles, working clubs and concerts with
saxophonist Dave Lefebvre's six-piece jazz-fusion group and
freelancing with such notable players as Bob Sheppard, Scott
Colley, Henry Butler, Richie Cole, Casey Schuerell and Clay
Jenkins. Jim recorded a trio album, Up Until Now, with
bassist John Patitucci and drummer Ralph Penland.
Witzel
also hosted and performed on his weekly, local cable television
series called “Jazz After Midnight” and led a quartet with featured
guest performers every week. He received a National Endowment for
the Arts Travel Study grant, which allowed him to study with
guitarists Jack Wilkins in New York and Howard Roberts in Los
Angeles.
While
living in Los Angeles, he also co-led a quartet with pianist Phil
Aaron, Eric Von Essen and Tony Jones.
###
FEELIN’ IT will be released September 30, 2022 and will
be available everywhere.
Online:
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