Customer Reviews

Tico-Banjo

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I firmly believe that you will find no other CD in the world like this one. I picked up mine years ago off of a rack simply catagorized as "banjo". The banjo is the salient miracle of this album considering that the instrument is so pigeon-holed into the narrow spectrum of bluegrass music primarily. In the right hands the banjo can sing any kind of music, and in the deepest, truest voicings! However, I would describe all of the instruments (blugrass/country instruments) and arrangements on this CD as 'understated spactacular', but this is not bluegrass; this is sweet clean flowing jazz. These musicians are probably studio musicians who have backed up many professional acts? I say that becuase these musicians have the extremely uncommon sense to not 'play over the music' while expertly playing the music to it's maximum potential both in solo and ensemble sections. Try to get this CD and try to encourage this ensemble to record again not only to create more great music, but to hopefully continue what to me sounds like a unique genre that they have created. It would certainly be a shame if this music is only a single shooting star, but if that indeed is the fate of the matter at least catch this star.

Who are these guys? Where are they now? When will they do an encore?

I first found this on a tape in Indonesia in the late 90s, but there were no liner notes, no list of musicians, only the title, Tico Banjo.

These are very tasteful arrangements of mainly old jazz standards, played by some virtuoso musicians who really compliment eachother. This tape has been one of my favorites ever since, and I am glad they re-issued it on CD.

Some of the most cheerful music I ever heard - starts your foot tapping and just puts you in a good mood. I recommend it.

Rick Wells, Denver