Joe Elefante
VANITY FAIR. Vanity Fair; Eider/Tale; I Cry;
Quiet Dream; The Touch of Your Lips; Fun With
Glass; D.n’T.; Valentine’s Day; Phoney Mahoney;
Danger.
PERSONNEL: Joe Elefante, piano, vocals,
rhodes, conductor; Ken Sebesky, guitar; Dennis
Irwin, bass; Andy Watson, drums; Dave D’Angleo,
alto and soprano sax, Gary Keller, tenor
sax, clarinet; Scott Robinson, baritone sax bass
clarinet; Dave Ballou, trumpet; Craig Johnson,
trumpet; Don Downs, trumpet; Joe Magnarelli,
trumpet; John Masca, trombone; Pete McGuinness,
trombone; Doug Purviance, bass trombone.
By Joshua Musselwhite
At the age of 27, Joe Elefante has already
established quite the reputation, as a pianist,
composer, conductor, and singer. His most recent
group, Joe Elefante and the Sugar Band,
was recently featured on ABC’s Nightline. Although
some have described Joe’s sound and
style as big-band-pop, there are many facets to
his sound. But in whatever category he is placed,
there is no doubt that his roots belong to jazz.
Elefante’s first album Vanity Fair is a great
display of his versatility as a musician. The album
features the format of a big band, with all
the compositions by Elefante. The styles vary
greatly from the “Killer Joe”-ish style of the title
track, “Vanity Fair,” to the big-band-pop sound
of “I Cry.” Upon listening to several tracks from
Vanity Fair, Elefante’s musicianship becomes
startlingly obvious.
Besides his great skills as a composer, Elefante
is an excellent pianist and vocalist as well.
Perhaps one of the highlights of the album falls
in “I Cry,” where Joe sings in unison with the
lines that he plays on the keys. The lines are
fierce and vocally challenging, but he performs
them with ease. The effect is extraordinary.
Another improvisational point of interest is
the classic tenor saxophone battle found in
“D.n’T.” between Walt Weiskopf and Garry
Keller. Weiskopf blows first. The tune is in an
up-tempo swing, done is a loose 3 feel. From the
start Weiskopf comes out in full glory, taking no
prisoners with his advanced harmonic approach
and technical prowess. His solo is full of energy
and passion. But as with all great battles, there
are great losses, and Garry Keller suffers this
one. His solo seems to lacks the fire and direction
that Weiskopf’s possesses. Nevertheless,
this battle of the saxes was well fought and
surely will entertain its listeners.
With everything this CD offers it certainly
will be enjoyed by all. The compositions reflect
an intellectual depth and creatively, yet retain
their public appeal. The solos from the musicians
are all fantastic, and the band is tight. Joe Elefante’s
debut album Vanity Fair is an absolute
success.
