Frank Macchia
Folk Songs for Jazzers
Cacophony, Inc
www.frankmacchia.net
By George W. Harris

Saxist, composer, and arranger, Frank Macchia is one of the real
undiscovered original talents out there in the music scene. He has put
out a number of highly creative and diverse recordings, ranging from
the hilarious pair of onomatopoeic pair of “Animals” and “Mo’ Animals”
to the sweeping and panoramic sax and strings “Landscapes” and
Emotions.” And, last years saxophone colossus, “Saxolollapalooza” was a
reedman’s delight with an army of saxes making sounds that shook the
earth as well as made the feet tap. This time around, Macchia gets
together with some of LA’s finest musicians (like Sal Lozano, Bob
Sheppard, Wayne Bergeron, Tom Ranier, Peter Erskine and Trey Henry, to
name just a handful) to put some pizzaz into the True Great American
Songbook, namely folk tunes like “Red River Valley” and “On Top Of Old
Smoky.”

As with his other projects, Macchia’s incongruous concept here works
so well that upon hearing these rich and inventive readings of “The
Erie Canal” and “Tom Dooley,” you’ll ask “why hasn’t anyone thought of
this idea before?” The Latinized “Skip To My Lou,” for instance has
some piccolo solos by Lozano, Sheppard and Macchia that are just
tantalizing, while the Gil Evansish “Oh! Suzanna” has some rich
trombone work by Alex Iles. Wayne Bergeron tears through the Mingusy
“Did You Ever See A Lassie?” while Tierney Sutton delivers a mysterious
reading of “Red River Valley” that, along with Grant Geissman’s guitar
solo, will send shivers up your spine.

This guy needs to do some touring around the states, or at least do a
few gigs here in LA. His records have to be seen to be believed.
Another winner from this obscure genius.