Constantly seeking untapped musical terrain, New York-based guitarist and composer Oz Noy steps onto fertile ground with “Snapdragon”.
The spry rhythmic wallop that characterized his previous album, the backbeat-driven “Booga Looga Loo”, remains in full force — only now welded to an open, bop-inflected chromaticism fostering a more dynamic, searching improvisational energy. Intricately winding unison melody lines spiral out across fatback rhythmscapes, expertly realized by an
impressive cast of soloists and supporting musicians.
Among those stoking the fires of the rhythm section are Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Will Lee, James Genus, and John Patitiucci, while Noy trades improvised solos and notated melodies with saxophonist Chris Potter, keyboardists David Kikoski and Jason Lindner, trumpeter John Sneider, guitarist Adam Rogers, and the recently deceased trumpeter Wallace Roney, whose subtly blues-tinged solo glides over the nimble rhythmic modulations of “Outer Look.”

Format: CD
Cat No.: ABLX-063
Barcode: 700261481210

Line up

Oz Noy (Guitar), Will Lee / John Patitucci / James Genus (Bass), Dennis Chambers / Vinnie Colaiuta / Dave Weckl (Drums) and Brian Charette / Jason Lindner (Keys).

Track list

1. Looni Tooni
2. Tired But Wired
3. Outer Look
4. She’s Not There
5. Boom Boo Boom
6. Snapdragon
7. Evidence
8. Groovin’ Grant
9. Bemsha Swig (Alternative Take)

Recording information

Produced by: Oz Noy

Recorded at Sweetwater Studios, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Recording engineers: Mark Hornsby and Shawn Dealey.

Mixing by Neil Dorfsman.

Mastering by Jim Brick.

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2020

All  About  Jazz

Review by  Mike Jacobs 
“Though his taking melodic center-stage was never a detraction on past albums, his partial “laying back” here not only adds more sonic variety but actually accentuates Noy’s unique melodic voice by having it come through on other instruments. It also gives a lot more punch to Noy’s guitar when it does take the spotlight.”

Jazz Journal

Review by Mark Youll 
“…those familiar with Noy’s music would concur that it’s the blues that defines him as a guitar player. But what makes him so compelling is his non-purist approach to the blues, his radical technique, creative use of effects and spunky shifts into jazz and multiple other musical genres.”

From the artist

“I think my technique is limited, but there’s a difference between technique for technique’s sake and technique to bring your ideas to life. I’m able to quickly bring my musical ideas to an improvisation in real time, but there are a lot of things I can’t do.”