Photo- Michael Stewart |
John
Escobar has lived in Colombia,
Ecuador and Kenya. He absorbed musical influences as he went along
rock, funk and salsa and mastered acoustic and electric guitar
and percussion. Along the way he developed a passion and a distinctive
talent for straight-ahead jazz that forms the nucleus of this project.While
Were Young is a comfortable confluence, the serendipitous
outcome of Escobars studies at Berklee College, his meeting with
Tom Mindte of Patuxent Records, his work as a recording engineer for Patuxent,
and the dynamic blend of outstanding artists that drifted into the studio
to work with Escobar as he moved Nate Leath is one of the best
players Ive ever met. He can pick up on any kind of music you throw
at him and make it sound like nothing youve ever heard. Playing
with drummer Anders Eliasson is easy |
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As a player, Escobar navigates through hisproduction like a welcome but tactful guest. Under his command we hear jazz guitar in itsnatural habitat. No showboating. When Escobar steps up to the spotlight completely alone, as inAll the Things You Are or the hauntingly evocative Dove Song, hes a power-house of pent-up energies. But theres no clutter - he always leaves clear space between the notes. As producer/engineer he seeks out the best sound from everybody and brings it to the fore when he hears it, whether its the depth and intensity of Katrina Dykes vocals (You Dont Know What Love Is, God Bless the Child, Feel Like Making Love), or Teichrowes effortless flow on the sax throughout. Nate Leaths twists and turns on violin and the attack of Mindtes skirling mandolin on Robins Nest contribute a dynamic that echoes the bright spontaneity of a 1930s recording. |
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Underpinning
everything is Wolfes spotless rhythm and the authoritative bass of
Paul Joyner (electric and stand-up), who also takes a hand on keyboard and
piano. Escobars production skills are at their height in Feel Like
Making Love, about which he comments, I added a lot of layers of electric
guitar on the chorus section and here and there because I wanted us to sound
like a bigger band on this song. I added percussion and Paul added keys,
all to get that big funk feeling. With While Were Young,
producer/guitarist John Escobar fulfills the criteria laid down by the incomparable
pianist Oscar Peterson: Its the group sound thats important,
even when youre playing a solo. You not only have to know your own
instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times.
Thats jazz. BARBARA BAMBERGER SCOTT - 2007 |
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You Dont Know What Love Is * All
The Things You Are *. God Bless the Child Dove Song * Feel Like Makin
Love * While We're Young
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