Sam
Barsh “I Forgot What You Taught Me” CD
About
the album:
Sam
Barsh is one of those delightful free spirits, one who agrees to pose
naked on the back cover of his debut CD save for a strategically
placed melodica covering his butt. His music is cheeky as well, which
seems to be dedicated to his rigid but well-meaning music teachers. A
former member of the Avishai Cohen Trio, Barsh has created a
quirky-but-endearing pop-jazz CD with many pleasing moments perfect
Sunday morning with a cup of Joe. “Plans Change” and
“This Is The Song” are simple and enjoyable, but the real
fun begin with songs like “Wake Up and Smile”, Barsh's
melodica answering Tim Collin's videos work.
Throw
in some dub (“George Dub”), easy sway (“nuTrance”)
and the mesmerizing loop of “Jew Hefner”, and you have
one fine contemporary jazz CD, lean and so fun to listen to. Don't
know if his jazz teachers would approve, but I Forgot What You Taught
Me is a hell of a sweet listen. Holding down the bottom admirably are
Ari Folman-Cohen on bass and Jaimeo Brown on drums.
Pianist
Sam Barsh, who until recently has been best known for his work as a
sideman for such eclectic jazz artists as Avishai Cohen and Zach
Brock and the Coffee Achievers, will release I Forgot What You Taught
Me, on February 12 on Razdaz Recordz, the five year-old label founded
by the internationally acclaimed bassist/composer and band leader
Avishai Cohen and his manager Ray Jefford.
I
Forgot What You Taught Me features the quartet known as The Sam Barsh
band: Barsh on piano, keyboards and melodica, Tim Collins (Christian
McBride, Buster Williams, Harvie S.) on vibes, Ari Folman-Cohen
(Soulive, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe) on bass and Jaimeo Brown
(Stevie Wonder, A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, and Bobby
Hutcherson) on drums. The CD’s 13 selections were all composed
by Barsh, with the exception of the hypnotic “George Dub,”
which was written by the entire band.
Barsh
grew up in the Chicago area, and has been playing music since the age
of 4, starting on piano, and expanding to organ, synthesizers,
vintage keyboards, and melodica. From 2003 through 2006, Barsh was a
member of the renowned Avishai Cohen Trio, with whom he recorded 3
CDs and a live DVD. He can also be seen regularly with violinist Zach
Brock and the Coffee Achievers, with whom he has toured and recorded
two CDs and an upcoming, live CD/DVD.
In
addition, he has performed with a diverse group of notable artists
throughout his career In addition, he has performed with a diverse
group of notable artists throughout his career, including Cassandra
Wilson, Jeff Parker, Boyz II Men, Bobby McFerrin, The Brand New
Heavies, Robin Eubanks, Debbie Friedman, Branford Marsalis, Lonnie
Plaxico, Christophe Schweizer, Dave Samuels (of Spyro Gyra), Ku’umba
Frank Lacy, The Mighty Blue Kings, Omar Edwards, Mino Cinelu, Rez
Abbasi, Kenny Wollessen, Curtis Watts, Nguyen Le, Ben Monder, Hans
Glawischnig, Todd Carey, and many others.
Tracking
list:
01.
Intro
02.
Plans Change
03.
Wake Up and Smile
04.
nuTrance
05.
George Dub
06.
Rainy Day Jam
07.
Jew Hefner
08.
Between Dead and Alive
09.
Rainy Day Loo
10.
Harriet Nyborg
11.
Plans Change (reprise)
