Crazy Talk by Jeff Barone

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-Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

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"Jeff is one of New York's best kept secrets"

-Reuben Wilson, Jazz Organist/Composer

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"Jeff Barone is a real comer, and his debut recording Crazy Talk shows him to be an exceptionally fluent jazz guitarist with a great sense of swing and a tart, expressive sound all his own."

-Chip Stern, Jazz Critic

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"I heartily recommend catching guitarist Jeff Barone and his band. His funky, clean guitar lines and varied set list of originals and delightful standards are engaging , accessible and inspired."

-Michael Fitzell, Westchester Magazine

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"On Crazy Talk, New York-based Jeff Barone unleashes his aggressive, in your face improvisational approach to mainstream jazz on tunes like "In a Sentimental Mood," "You Must Believe in Spring" and "Who Can I Turn To?"

-Jim Ferguson, JazzTimes

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"...It's really a fantastic record from top to bottom..."

-Eric Cohen, WAER Fm Jazz 88

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"Jeff Barone's CD Crazy Talk is a must have. He puts on a veritable clinic in great jazz guitar playing on this recording. For the general jazz listener and aficionado, Crazy Talk would be a most welcome addition to any jazz CD collection and one that will be played often."

-Jazz Review.com

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Reviews

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Crazy Talk: Jeff Barone (String Jazz) - This is the long awaited debut album from one of the NYC area's up and coming guitarists. It was co-produced by Jeff and Jack Wilkins. Wilkins' imprimatur alone should tell prospective purchasers that Barone is a force to be reckoned with.

I was immediately impressed by the fact, that out of a bumper crop of young mainstream jazz guitarists, Barone stands out with a truly distinctive guitar sound. On most of the tracks, it's a resonant electric archtop tone - one that really pops out at you. Combined with some admirable chops and an adventuresome, yet swing approach, he's a real standout.

He covers all the bases on this disc. The title track is a neat bit of inspired "60's funk. In a similar "get down" groove, he has some fun with Stevie Wonder's "Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing." Pianist Ron Oswanski lays down a nice solo on this one.

Barone proves an able hand at ballads. Notable are his intro to "You Must Believe in Spring" and the slow simmer he puts under his own "To Care For."

He also displays an impressive mastery of the classical guitar. This is brought to the fore on "Who Can I Turn To" --played in tandem with Wilkins. "She's the One" - written by Wilkins - has him working out with the full band in a pulsating Latin excursion.

Cool up-tempo arrangements highlight the normally ruminative "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Close You Eyes."Jeff's solo on the later is outstanding.

To complete the package, he shows that he can really play the blues, as he charges through the challenging tempos of "Resa's Blues."

---Jim Fisch, 20th Century Guitar Magazine/ May 2003

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When first encountering the music on New York City based guitarist Jeff Barone's new CD Crazy Talk the first impression that comes to mind is that he possesses more than an average share of great chops and musical ideas. From the very first selection, an original dedicated to his wife Resa "Resa's Blues," Barone kicks his guitar playing up a notch with some intricate figures played up-tempo. When the second tune begins with a Latin vamp, a listener may wonder what Barone has in mind for Ellington's classic, "In A Sentimental Mood." Be assured the Latin treatment works very well and Barone carries off the tune quite successfully.

Barone isn't all about fireworks however, as evidenced by his super sensitive playing on another original, a beautiful ballad entitled To Care For. His treatment of Stevie Wonder's "Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing," and his improvised solo on the tune is superb. Not to be overlooked, pianist Ron Oswanski also contributes a very nicely melodic solo. Oswanski's piano also plays a prominent role in the group's version of Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe in Spring," and another Barone original, the title cut "Crazy Talk" features the talents of drummer Mike Clark. Guitarist Jack Wilkins contributes "She's The One," is co-producer of Crazy Talk and is featured in duet on the concluding cut on the CD "Who Can I Turn To."

Throughout the recording, Barone demonstrates familiarity with classical guitar chops as evidenced by his introductions on the tunes, "You Must Believe in Spring," "She's The One," and "Who Can I Turn To." For guitarists everywhere, Jeff Barone's CD Crazy Talk is a must have. He puts on a veritable clinic in great jazz guitar playing on this recording. For the general jazz listener and aficionado, Crazy Talk would be a most welcome addition to any jazz CD collection and one that will be played often.

---Craig W. Hurst, JazzReview.com

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A New Orleans shuffle and plenty of traditional swing bring Jeff Barone's debut CD into focus as a jazz guitar celebration. Echoes of Wes Montgomery and Grant Green reverberate in quartet format, as Barone works with piano, bass and drums to interpret classic tunes and several original compositions.

The session starts off with a blues. Solos around the room and fours with the drummer set the pace for mainstream action. Barone's light attack and clear articulation usher in a pleasant scenario. Listen in at jazz-network.com and feel the swinging mood that prevails. Barone proves hypnotic in his interpretations with this cohesive group.

"Crazy Talk" it is, in the manner of hot jazz that swings with the kind of freedom not found in most other forms of music. Barone improvises with spirit. He makes himself comfortable both with hot jazz and with mellower airs. An older Latin backdrop gives the session as much excitement as do contemporary songs. This is one to be savored again and again.

---Jim Santella, AllAboutJazz.com

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New Artists On The Cusp

by Chip Stern

Jeff Barone-Crazy Talk (String Jazz Recordings)

Based on the evidence of the blazing "Resa's Blues" and the funk-jazz changes of the title tune (featuring Mike Clark on drums), Jeff Barone is a real comer, and his debut recording Crazy Talk shows him to be an exceptionally fluent jazz guitarist with a great sense of swing and a tart, expressive sound all his own. Unlike so many young jazz guitarists, who seem convinced that dulling down their sound with flat, colorless solid-state amps and a dark, boxy timbre somehow conveys jazz authenticity, Barone's tone has a tubey, bluesy quality that allows individual notes to bloom and speak, giving his lines an exciting, vocalized quality, which really suits his edgy, hard-driving rhythmic approach. He manages to convey the same fervent emotional quality in his acoustic playing, to particular effect on "Who Can I Turn To" (with producer Jack Wilkins on rhythm guitar), while Barone's displaying his graceful feeling for balladry playing transforms the standard "You Must Believe In Spring" into something all his own.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK ONLINE © 2003

Crazy Talk Liner Notes

What a wonderful CD this is! It has so much vitality and richness. I've known Jeff for about 8 years and have always enjoyed his playing and creativity. He couldn't have picked better songs or musicians for his first CD. Ron Oswanski, on piano; Chris Berger, on Bass; Joe Strasser, on Drums; and Jeff make a formidable quartet. Swinging and energetic, these four really work well together. Jeff's own sound on electric or acoustic is round and full with a joyous quality throughout!

Jeff includes three of his own compositions on the CD, "Resa's Blues," "Crazy Talk"(which features the special performance of drummer Mike Clark) and my favorite tune of Jeff's, "To Care For," all are wonderfully vibrant. Jeff's accomplishments as a classical guitar player are extraordinary. Check out his intros to "You Must Believe in Spring," " She's the One" and "Who Can I Turn To." Jeff's playing is technically masterful with a sound that comes right from the heart, with improvisations that are unique and emotionally satisfying. His versions of "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing" are stunning and great to listen over and over again.

I love this CD and am delighted to be a part of this endeavor. I suspect guitarists and the jazz general public will be delighted as well.

Jack Wilkins

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