The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Black SwanP” from the EP “Dark Sparks” (pictured), released earlier this year. ART BY MARY MEHALICK
Makin Waves 2023 Bassist of the Year Mike Noordzy is just about as busy as can be. When not backing other musicians, he focuses on his own jazzy instrumentals, the latest of which are collected on the five-song EP, “Dark Sparks.”
The Nacht Records outing includes "Black SwanP,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Black SwanP” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on May 17 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
About the tune, Mike said, “What starts as a mysterious Burt Bacharach-on-acid type of vibe soon devolves into a perverse bossa nova, concluding with a distorted contra alto clarinet and trombone noise orgy.”
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The EP is a second serving of Mike’s instrumental alt-noir following the 2023 four-song effort, “Sleaze Greaze.”
The same melodic intoxicants and hypnotic rhythms as its swampy predecessor feature a soft rip of romance lurking in the shadows. Mike, who also plays clarinet on “Dark Sparks,” again works with vibraphonist Mary Mehalick (who also again designed the album artwork), resonator guitarist Josh Siegel, and trombonist Ian Young. They are joined by accordionist Frankie Midnight and drummer-percussionist Jem Seidel. Several of them played in the New Brunswick jazz-funk ensemble Rugburn, who were friends with Mike’s band El Noordzo.
Upcoming gigs include June 1 at Prototype 247 in Paterson with Joy on Fire and June 15 as part of the return of Asbury Underground during the North2Shore Festival, where Mike and his band will be playing the Joe Harvard stage at Parlor Gallery.
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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Here is a look at shows taking place from February 4-10, 2025 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
Both Asbury Park and New Orleans have a history of brass bands. NOLA's history is a bit better known than AP's, but at the turn of the 20th century, John Philip Sousa and his trombonist Arthur Pryor made brass bands the foundation of the storied Asbury Park music scene.
(CAMDEN, NJ) --/PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc., and its WinterFest partner, POWDR, announced the return of the automaker's annual mountain tour, Subaru WinterFest, the premier winter playground for music fans, skiers, snowboarders, and dog lovers alike. WinterFest will be arriving at six mountain destinations across the U.S. this winter.
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