Press Raves for The Hang:
"Wainapel
delivers his best recording to date... it succeeds for all the right jazz
reasons: impeccable straight ahead arrangements, highly expressive
execution and radiant ensemble fellowship."
-- Dan Ouellette, DownBeat 
"This is an astonishing, exciting CD. It's a monumental showcase for
virtuoso jazz woodwind player Wainapel, who plays beautifully
throughout... Plenty of heat but no compromise with melody, here. Lots of
grand solos but steady, rich ensemble choruses, too."
-- Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner
"... quite simply one of the best mainstream jazz recordings I've
heard all year."
-- Wayne Saroyan, The Oakland Tribune
"The album is adventurous and enjoyable. Wainapel has a unique
natural expressiveness... Highly recommended "
-- Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene
An Expert Opinion:
"At
home or on the road, Wainapel plays with the same performance attitude
which for me is what jazz improvisation is all about. In the studio or in
concert, Wainapel expresses his beautiful relaxed sound throughout. It's a
pleasure to listen to Harvey's soulful interpretations"
-- Joe Lovano
Listen to these Real Audio tracks from The Hang:
Beautiful
Love
The
Buzzard
Haddapple
Beach
Wilpan's
Blues
for Sophia
Bueno
y Perfecta
CTA
La
Lausanneoise
Pinocchio
Choro
da Gafieira
Other
Releases by
Harvey Wainapel:
At Home/On the Road
(JazzMission
Records 101, 1994)
featuring Mark Levine,
Larry Porter, Larry Grendadier, Thomas Stabenow, and Mike Clark
Ambrosia: The Music of Kenny Barron
(A-Records 73060, 1996)
featuring the
Metropole Orchestra (tracks 1-5); Marcos Silva, Carlos Oliveira, Jeff
Buenz, Celso Alberti, Rich Kuhns, Michael Spiro, and Mark Lamson (tracks
6-9).
"One of the
most promising and versatile players of his generation."
-- All Music Guide to Jazz, 1998
Multi-saxophonist Harvey Wainapel's newest (and third) CD, The Hang, is a natural outgrowth of his busy and varied career. Lessons learned while performing with the likes of McCoy Tyner, Joe Lovano, Joe Henderson, Ray Charles, Johnny Coles and Billy Hart - combined with valuable experience gained from years of leading his own international tours - have come together in Wainapel's strongest recording to date. Joining Wainapel on The Hang is the all-star cast of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Larry Grenadier, trumpeter Phil Grenadier, and drummer Kenny Wollesen.
Catch Harvey Wainapel in concert in these upcoming performances...
Originally from upstate New York, Wainapel studied at Berklee College of Music for two years, during which time he recorded (and performed at Carnegie Hall) with vibist Gary Burton. Following a two-month tour of Tunisia, Wainapel settled in Europe for five years, including one year with the German Radio Big Band in Frankfurt. Soon after returning to New York, Wainapel was hired by singer Ray Charles for a 10-month world tour, and then moved to San Francisco. Wainapel has been a key contributor to the Bay Area jazz scene for over 16 years, as well as maintaining an ongoing international impact.
Writes Harvey in the
liner notes to The Hang:
"The Hang is a state of being that reflects a state of mind, and always involves other people beside yourself. Could be a Relaxed Hang, might evolve into a Wild Hang, but always the search of well-being and fun. Don't misunderstand, controlled substances aren't necessarily involved; they could help, but also possibly ruin a hang - it either happens or it doesn't, and better luck next time... Things worked out very nicely over a couple of days in June; so thanks for joining us this time. Let me tell you a bit about the soundtrack to this particular hang, which took place in Brooklyn, and now is continuing in your living room..."
Harvey Wainapel concentrates equally on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. His heavy involvement with the music of Brazil (add clarinet here) is reflected on both The Hang and his second release, Ambrosia: The Music of Kenny Barron, and he has performed with such notables of that genre as Flora Purim and Airto, Dori Caymmi, Manfredo Fest, Claudio Slon, Mike Marshall, Claudia Villela and Weber Drummond.
Ambrosia: The Music of Kenny Barron and Harvey's debut recording, At Home/On the Road, were well-received by critics and jazz lovers alike.
Reviews from Ambrosia: The Music of Kenny Barron:
"[Ambrosia]
showcases Wainapel's genius -- and penchant for adventure."
-- Downbeat
"An incredible
saxophonist. If there was any justice in life, Wainapel would win a Grammy
for this recording."
-- Saxophone Journal
"...consistently
creative, restlessly inventive."
-- JazzTimes
"Wainapel proves
that he is among the most imaginative, sensitive and creative saxophonists
of the post-Coltrane era."
-- San Francisco Examiner
Praise for At Home/On the Road:
"
Dynamic, self-assured, emotionally-charged modern jazz."
-- Twin Cities Reader"This is music that can be played again and again...a clear winner."
-- Cadence
Although his main activity is performing, Wainapel has been generous in sharing the experience gained in a career spanning nearly thirty years; he has also been on the Jazz Faculty at Sonoma State University and the Stanford Jazz Workshop, as well as giving workshops around the world.
Thursday-Friday, July 1-2
with The Jovino Santos Neto Quintet
Seattle, WA
http://www.jovisan.netFriday-Saturday, July 9-10
with Weber Iago
Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, CAFriday, July 16
with Viva Brazil
Little Fox Theatre, Redwood City, CA
http://www.foxdream.comFriday-Saturday, July 23-24
with Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto
Seattle, WA
http://www.jovisan.netSaturday, August 7 at 1 pm
with Viva Brazil
San Jose Jazz Festival
http://www.sanjosejazz.orgAugust 22-28
Harvey will be on faculty at California Brazil Camp
(fellow faculty includes Guinga, Jovino Santos Neto, Marcos Silva, Arnaldinho Silva, Ricardo Peixoto & Claudia Villela)
Cazadero, CA
http://www.mameluco.comSunday, September 5 at 1:30 pm
with Sandy Cressman & Homenagem Brasileira
Jazz At Filoli, Woodside, CA
http://www.filoli.org
E-mail: harvjazz@earthlink.net