(Cynthia Sayer, banjo, vocals & arrangements; Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar; Scott Robinson, saxes & clarinet; Randy Sandke, trumpet; Jim Fryer, trombone; Sara Caswell, violin; Greg Cohen, doublebass; Joe Ascione, percussion)
Cynthia Sayer is a decade-long veteran of Woody Allen’s New Orleans Jazz Band, has performed with some of the top names in classic and modern jazz, and names among her musical heroes Django Reinhardt and historic banjoist Elmer Snowden. This is her eighth recording as a leader, showing off both her versatile banjo stylings as well as her terrific no-nonsense vocal style.
Although she earned most of her reputation in the area of early jazz, on this CD she takes on the pop, classical and swing areas as well, plus a couple of original compositions – one a banjo tango. Her choice of selections is quirky and fun. It includes a rarely-heard Irving Berlin tune popularized by Ruth Etting, a 1930’s ode to marijuana by Sidney Bechet, and Django’s well-known Swing de Paris. The classical side is explored in the tango El Choclo, a throwback to Sayer’s early training as a classical pianist, and the closing Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, which shows off the versatility of her banjo virtuosity.
Sayer’s associates are some of the best, and have many albums between them as leaders too. Sandke is a superb trumpet star, Bucky Pizzarelli one of the best older-generation jazz guitarists, and Caswell one of the top jazz fiddlers around today. Her arrangements are just right, and her sense of showmanship and good humor makes the whole a much more fresh and exciting experience than you might imagine possible from just a singer/banjo player. She’s expanding the whole concept of the banjo in her own way, much as Bela Fleck has also done in his way. An inspiring CD that may move you to pick up some of her earlier CDs as well.
TrackList: Viper Mad, Half as Much, Banjo Tango, Shakin’ the Blues Away, Over the Rainbow, El Choclo, The Gift, Romance Without Finance, Dark Eyes, You Are My Sunshine, Swing de Paris, Aba Daba Honeymoon, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
– John Henry
