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CD by the Jazz Punks
The Los Angeles band Jazz Punks have recorded an album of creative arrangements mixing well-known rock ‘n’ roll (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, The Clash and more) with canonical jazz tunes (“A Night In Tunisia,” “Oleo,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” etc.) Smashups’ abrupt changing of gears and the piling up of musical references owe something to hip hop DJs.
But the performances are live and Jazz Punks are a strong jazz combo. KUSP’s Jeff Dayton-Johnson says the record is witty and well-played, and could introduce rock ‘n’ roll fans to classic jazz — and vice versa.
Read Jeff Dayton-Johnson’s review of Jazz Punks’ Smashups at allaboutjazz.com.
