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Jimmy Bayard typically plays just over 130 shows a year and has shared the staged with many national artists.

For current tour dates, please visit www.jimmybayardjazz.com/tour

Review of new album BLANC

From Ric's Hippie House of Rock - courtesy of Ric Allen

New Music Review:
You all know I love music and I especially love an opportunity to review new music, so today I'd like to tell ya about the debut release from our own Jimmy Bayard. "Blanc" is now available via digital download from Jimmy's... new website (http://jimmybayardjazz.com/) or in CD version (with 2 bonus tracks!) at his live gigs.

In this age of canned, sampled, overly processed and otherwise rehashed (read: stolen) content that passes for music it's refreshing to hear real players playing real instruments & making great songs in the process! Not only does Jimmy have great guitar 'chops' he's brought together a great group of musicians to help tell "his musical story", featuring - Keith Nance: tenor sax, soprano sax and flute, Justin Titus: drums, CJ Vanderpoll: drums, Blake Tanberk: bass, Jeff Westervelt: bass. Keith Brown: bass. Jason Craft: organ. Matt Klein: piano. JB: rhythm and lead guitar, bass, keyboards, auxiliary percussion.

According to Jimmy's new site he "is a premier contemporary jazz guitarist from Houston, Texas. With sounds similar of George Benson and Robben Ford. And he brings southern soul and energy to the stage and the studio". No arguments here folks, I certainly hear those influences here but also "spices" from other great Contemporary Jazz/Fusion/Acid Jazz players like Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, John Scofield, Jeff Golub, Kevin Eubanks & Hiram Bullock. I'd say that's good company to be associated with!

So what will you hear on "Blanc"? A mix of guitars (both clean and 'dirty', love me some dirty guitar acid jazz!), bass, keyboards, sax and assorted percussion all weaved together into lively compositions that flow nicely, have good instrumental spaciousness, interesting transitions & interplay (like between guitar & sax, guitar & keys, etc.), and a feeling of familiarity (in a very good way if your a fan of the artists mentioned above) as the songs don't need to be listened to over & over to get into them. They are like old friends from the first note to the last. And I mean that with all due respect to Jimmy & band, I really like this album!!!

What does "Blanc" sound like? As an audiophile I listen to not only the songs but the 'recording'. Jimmy sent me MP3 files which I download and ripped to a TDK CD-R so I could play it on a number of different systems in my home as well as my car. Even with the 'limited' audio of the MP3 files I found the recording to be very clean with solid bass, nicely detailed instrument spacing and a pretty good size soundstage as well as a nice articulated center image for solos, etc. The mix level was very good, had a low noise-floor and posed no issues with playing it clear & loud without any strain from my Oppo/Pioneer Elite/B&W/JBL Home Theater system or my SonyES/Marantz/Energy system in my master bedroom. It also sounded great in my car with a pretty descent higher end factory Ford system. Even streaming it from my iPhone5 (via iTunes) to my wireless Bluetooth speaker still provided enjoyable listening. Nice job Jimmy on the mixing & mastering! I am looking forward to picking up a real CD copy and compare it to my 'dub'. The CD mastered version should bring up the a sonics notch.

I guess it's pretty obvious that I like "Blanc", my stand out tracks are "Solace" with it's smokey blues groove and stellar fret work, "Waiting For A Phone" a really fun jumpy jazz number with funky organ grooves (this tune with make you tap your feet...unless you're dead!) and "Keep On Askin" nice meld of jazz, rock & fusion with a killer vibe and a wonderful dirty sounding electric guitar part with some cool 'harmonic' tones on the guitar solo.

Congrats Jimmy on producing a fine album with REAL music for real people!

My Bottom Line
Performance: *****
Sonics: ****