Notes
Hitz & Pizz: A Rhythm Extravaganza Ever wish you could just hear the rhythm section (without piano, or saxophones, or brass) of a jazz ensemble or big band without any acoustic interference from the other instruments? "Hitz & Pizz: A Rhythm Extravanga" is just such an album. The 15 tracks on this album (sans piano, saxophones and brass) have been stripped from previously recorded tracks from three prior released albums of arrangements and original compositions from composer Eugene Marlow: "Wonderful Discovery" (MEII Enterprises 2007), "Celebrations" (MEII Enterprises 2010), and "A Fresh Take" (MEII Enterprises 2011). "Wonderful Discovery" was tapped as the "Best Latin Jazz album of 2007" by the Village Voice. "Celebrations" garnered over two dozen reviews and mentions in 2010 (including the LA Times). The New York City Jazz Record called "A Fresh Take" "a cross-cultural collaboration that spins and grooves." The players on "Hitz & Pizz" are some of the best rhythm section performers out of New York City. Now you'll be able to hear the virtuosic playing that drives many a successful track. What is truly amazing about hearing the rhythm section isolated from the other instrumentalists is how "orchestral" the playing is. To put this another way, the playing is not merely the same rhythmic pattern over and over again. There is not only structure, but also a great deal of improvisational variation in the playing. By the way, 'Hitz' refers to the drummers and percussionists on this album. 'Pizz'--an abbreviation of the musical term pizzicato--refers to the bass players and guitarist on this album. The Performers: Hitz: Bobby Sanabria, drums/percussion (tracks 1-5, 8-9, 12-13) Phoenix Rivera, drums (tracks 6-7, 10-11, 14-15) Cristian Rivera, percussion (tracks 1-5, 8-9, 13) Roland Guerrero, percussion (tracks 6-7, 10-11, 14-15) Pizz: Frank Wagner, acoustic and electric bass (tracks 1, 3-5, 8-9, 13) Ruben Rodriguez, electric bass (tracks 6-7, 10-11, 14-15) Rory Stuart, guitar (tracks 7, 10, 14) Eugene Marlow Composer/Arranger President, MEII Enterprises December 2011.
