Ed Johnson & Novo Tempo
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 427-2227
Concert only: $10/Adv $13/Door
Jazz & Dinner: $21.50/Adv
Doors & dinner beginning at: 6:00pm
Featuring Caf Kuumbwa Chef Cheryl Simons
Band Line Up
Ed Johnson - guitar, vocals
Jennifer Scott - piano, vocals
John Worley - trumpet, flugelhorn
Kristen Strom - sax, flute, vocals
Scott Sorkin - guitar, vocals
Rene Worst - bass
Jason Lewis - drums
Michalle Goerlitz - percussion
New CD
Ed Johnson & Novo Tempo The Other Road Cumulus Records CR 0105
Ed Johnson-vocals & guitar
Street Date Oct. 1, 2007
Guitarist Ed Johnson has been playing and recording music for many years, combining his love of jazz, pop, and worldly sounds, and has turned many heads for his work. The Other Road (Cumulus) has him and his group, Novo Tempo, playing music that is suitable for the jazz clubs, coffeehouses, and even smooth jazz radio.
Bossa nova is a string that runs throughout this album, playing it traditionally while also combining it with jazzy elements to bring out the best out of each musician and of course each song. The saxophone work of Kristen Strom in “Clean Up" compliments Johnson's guitar and vocal work, and while an album like this could work by the group playing songs at four minutes or less, Johnson allows himself and Novo Tempo to explore these pieces, with tracks going well over the four minute mark, two of which clock in over seven. The playing is very strong throughout, and while “mellow" tends to turn a few people away when it comes to jazz, in this case it is said with compliments to the album, and anyone who ever said a smoother style of jazz needs to be boring and predictable needs to pick this up and play it many times over. It's contemporary jazz without the contempt, prepare to be surprised. John Book- Music For America
For more information contact Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services.
