Jay Azzolina - Present Tense

Styles: Jazz Contemporary
Year: 2025
Time: 46:47
File: MP3 @ 320
Size: 43,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:25) 1. Big Lou
(7:12) 2. Viracocha
(7:25) 3. I Choose You
(6:34) 4. Clarebelle
(6:28) 5. He's Back
(5:23) 6. It's All About You
(3:21) 7. Rhythms Change
(2:55) 8. While We're Here

Jay Azzolina is a contemporary jazz guitarist whose music bridges the legacy of post-bop with modern improvisation and fresh harmonic ideas. His latest album Present Tense showcases this blend beautifully bringing together soulful accordion lines, deep grooves, and harmonic textures that challenge and uplift the listener. Inspired by the idea of living in the moment, Present Tense reflects Jay's belief that music is one of the few places where we truly live in the present. With standout collaborators like bassist Dave Zinno, drummer Rafael Barata, and accordionist Sonny Barbato, the album pushes jazz into a bold, expressive space while staying rooted in Jay’s love for songwriting and melodic exploration.

After moving to the UK in August 2024, Jay has been active on the British and Welsh jazz scenes, performing with local musicians and bringing his creative voice to audiences across the region. He will perform in London at the 606 Club and serve as a clinician at the Wrexham International Guitar Workshop. Jay's summer plans include the Fishguard Jazz Festival and performances throughout Pembrokeshire. From early beginnings on trumpet, influenced by his father, to his eventual transition to guitar under the spell of Lenny Breau’s harmonies, Jay’s journey reflects his deep passion for musical evolution. His discography, including Never Too Late, Past Tense, and Live at One Station Plaza, continues to grow as he seeks to share his music on new platforms and connect with listeners around the world.https://www.truthrevolutionrecords.com/jay-azzolina

Present Tense

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Jay Azzolina - Past Tense

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 62:12
Size: 58,1 MB
Art: Front

( 8:35) 1. Ben Hur, Ben Him
( 7:42) 2. Inside Pies Eyes
( 8:57) 3. Black Waltz
( 7:31) 4. Lil' Red
(10:24) 5. The Totem
( 5:53) 6. Rhythms Change
( 6:53) 7. Marvelous Marvin
( 6:14) 8. My Ship

Known for his pop-fusion work with Spyro Gyra, Michael Franks, and others, guitarist Jay Azzolina steps into the straight-ahead jazz arena with this record. The lineup is heavy: Chris Potter on sax, Charles Blenzig on piano, John Patitucci on bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums. Fleet-fingered lines and burning swing abound on "Ben Hur, Ben Him" and "Rhythms Change." Darker, more delicate sounds emerge from "The Totem" and "Black Waltz." "Inside Pies Eyes" and "Marvelous Marvin" recall the pared-down trio music of John Scofield’s Shinola and Out Like a Light, while "Lil’ Red" recalls the piano/guitar duels of Scofield’s Rough House. Indeed, Azzolina’s writing and edgy guitar sound owe much perhaps a little too much to Scofield. At times his style is derivative, his tone a bit thin and nasal.

Also on the down side, Azzolina closes the album with a hopelessly cheesy version of Kurt Weill’s "My Ship," featuring his wife Jill Azzolina on vocals. It’s the final uneven moment of this somewhat uneven album. However, Azzolina’s prowess as a player is not in doubt, and his alliances with musicians like Potter and Patitucci promise better things to come.~David Adler https://www.allaboutjazz.com/past-tense-jay-azzolina-double-time-jazz-review-by-david-adler

Past Tense

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