Sunday, April 2, 2017

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month - "LehCats: Out Of The Bag"

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month
LehCats: "Out Of The Bag" (100% Vegan)
Rating: ***** (music performance and sonic quality)

Featuring: Norbert Stachel (bass clarinet, bass flute, tenor sax, soprano sax, shakers), Karen Stachel (flute, alto flute, piccolo), Gary Fisher and Bob Quaranta (piano), Mike O'Brien and Ivan Bodley (bass), Dan Gonzalez (drums, djembe, dumbek), Benny Koonyevsky (percussion, caxixi, pandeiro), Norbert Goldberg (shaker, pandeiro, riq, caxixi), Melissa Rodnon (pandeiro), Siavash Haghtalab (tonbak, dammam), Chris Biesterfeldt (banjo, mandolin, guitar), Will Bernard (rhythm guitar),

“Out Of The Bag” is LehCats' outstanding debut album. All striking original compositions written by reed masters Norbert Stachel and Karen Stachel. Three songs, Can You Share A Moment, Nations, and Slow March To The Showers Of No Return, were co-written with Norbert and Paul Hanson.

A fabulous ensemble who defines the terms artistry, teamwork and chemistry starting with the chemistry of the married couple of Karen and Norbert Stachel, the leaders of LehCats and two extraordinary musicians who deserve worlwide fame.  Their versatility is evident, and their ability to deliver and uplift both the music and the listener is profound.

LehCats is Norbert and Karen Stachels’ last name spelled backwards.  They performs original artistically and tastefully compositions that combine elements of Modern Jazz, Funk, Middle Eastern, and Afro/Latin, creating a musical potpourri of creative sound. Norbert Stachel plays tenor and soprano sax, bass clarinet, and flute, while is heard on Karen Stachel, flute, alto flute, and piccolo.

Norbert Stachel has toured, recorded, and performed with Tower Of Power, Flora Purim & Airto, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Prince, Boz Scaggs, Roger Waters, Peter Horvath, and countless others. Norbert co-leads the band with his wife Karen Stachel.

Karen Stachel has three released albums of her own. She works as a professional jazz and classical flutist in NYC and before moving  New York in the Bay Area.  She can be heard on several movie soundtrack and commercials.  She is a member of the  Wallace Roney Orchestra and a flutist/piccoloist with the New Amsterdam Symphony.

Pianist Gary Fisher performs extensively in the NYC area and can be heard on recordings with Ed Reed, Eddie Marshall, Carl Allen, Vincent Herring, and many others. Drummer Daniel Gonzalez has recorded and performed with Tom Harrell, Mark Murphy, Jesse Green, and Urbie Green.

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