Info:
Personnel:
Julie Benko - Vocals
Jason Yeager - Piano, Hammond Organ (1, 2), Celeste (6), Arrangements
John Manzari - Vocals (8), Tap Dance (4, 8)
Andy Warren - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (3)
Linus Wyrsch - Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone (2, 4)
Evan Arntzen - Tenor Saxophone (10)
Ron Wilkins - Trombone
Michael O’Brien - Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass (2, 4)
Jay Sawyer - Drums
Sasha Papernik - Accordion (5, 9)
Gabe Terraciano - Violin (9)
Justin Poindexter - Guitar (9), Banjo (9)
Jim Caruso - Announcer (1, 10)
How did a nice Jewish girl from Connecticut end up steeped in the sounds of New Orleans? Simple: I visited... and fell madly in love. The music, the spirit, the ghosts, and the joy all pulled me deeper down the rabbit hole. Euphonic Gumbo is my love letter to the Crescent City. We stirred in a little of everything: the syncopated strut of early jazz, the spice of a Cajun fiddle, the echo of folk ballads, Jelly Roll Morton’s “Spanish tinge,” and, of course, nods to the great piano “professors” famous for making the ivories dance. It’s music that honors both life and death, mischief and memory, Disney dreams and Longfellow laments. This album is a celebration, a second line, a reverent revelry. A party, plain and simple.
