Johnny Souza CD Release Spring 2004

Johnny Souza: Meet Me in the City

CD Review by Peter DeVeber - August 20, 2004

It is a Boston state of mind... oh yes, and Johnny Souza is a jazzman.

After listening to his new CD Meet Me in the City, I'm now a big fan of trumpeter and vocalist, Johnny Souza. Johnny Souza plays and sings jazz nice - real nice.

I first heard about Johnny a couple of years ago from Leo Curran. Leo sits on the board of directors of the New England Jazz Alliance and was road manager for the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1950s. Leo knows his stuff.

Leo said, "Peter, there's this trumpet player I just heard... and he sings... you should check him out." Leo knows I'm a big Chet Baker enthusiast so I said, "Anything like Chet Baker?" Leo wanting me to check him out said, "Yeah... something like Chet... yeah." Well, this CD is the first time I've heard Johnny Souza I'm embarrassed to say. And yes, there is some of the improvising a little like Chet and a lyric or two here and there - but you know what? Chet is Chet and Johnny is Johnny and they're both damn good.

Greg Abate is a special guest on the album. You already know what I think of Greg Abate - truly one of the best jazz saxophonists in the world.

Johnny's daughter Leah and son Johnny Souza III also join him on this album. My hope is of course not to riddle this piece with cliches but I do have to tell you that Johnny III is a chip off the old block.

The CD opens with a solid On the Street Where You Live and track 4 is a classic rendition of I Get a Kick Out of You... And Johnny's original Boston (Hub of My Heart) swings out, man - swings out! It's got that Frank Flavor it does. And son, Johnny III's muted trumpet solo reaches for the sweets - bon, Johnny III, bon.

Daughter Leah Souza vocalizes with her Dad on his title tune Meet Me in the City and very appropriately on A Song For My Father. Leah sings pretty. It's in her future I think. She sings the jazz language - just like her Dad.

Greg Abate steps out as the Fife & Drum Corps on Souza's Tea Party - Greg brings the flute and alto saxophone to the spirit of 76 or any other revolutionary year. He is a player!

Johnny Souza's trumpet is superb, clean cut - his doubles and triples are as sharp as the air they ride. And Johnny's flugelhorn smiles widely. And Johnny sings "madly" - as Ellington might say.

Piano, bass and drums are a big compliment to this album. Bravo! You want to hear some jazz piano? Mr. Santisi On the Street Where You Live! Oya! This Ray Santisi Trio is a powerful unit! Barry Smith, bass and Gene Roma, drums. Very fine!

The album is riffs, licks, precise improv, melody, harmony, and jazzy voicing - 10 tracks and all good. Oh, Strayhorn's Chelsea Bridge is a must take. Great Santisi playing.

So, if you want to swing out - hear fine standard jazz - Meet Me in the City is the place to meet. Highly highly recommended.

Purchase Meet Me in the City at Amazon.com or Boston.Pete.Com. On the South Shore it is available at the Independence Mall, Kingston, Massachusetts. And you can order it from Johnny's website: http://www.johnnysouza.com/cdinfo.html