Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Jack Prybylski, Out of the Box CD Release Party

Spaghettini, Seal Beach, CA

Saxophone: Jack Prybylski

Keyboard: Tom Zink

Guitar: Craig Sharmat

Bass: David Levray

Drums: Winston Butts

Special guests: Blake Aaron, Greg Vail

The minute I walked in the door, I felt the energy. I arrived in time for a little warm up and it went something like this;

Drummer Winston Butts~

“A little less boom, a little more smack.”

Music Director, Q~

“That’s what I’m all about!”

The up-and-running energy of Jack Prybylski was contagious to say the least. A few back slaps and a healthy dose of band camaraderie were exchanged.

“How ya doin’?”, “What’s up?”, “Y’all good?” filled the air.

Headliner, sax man, Jack Prybylski~

“Can we bring the lights up a little bit?”

Q~

“One second.”

An intimate Jack pre-show pow wow~

“It’s an honor and pleasure playing with you guys. Just have fun!” I smiled at their jokes about forgiving each other for any musical mistakes that might occur during the performance. Their stage energy was smooth-as-silk. They clicked.

Drummer Winston Butts~

“One, two, three.”

Jack~

“Good evening, everyone. Thanks, for coming to my CD release party.

This first one is off my CD called Head Hunter.”

Jack fired up his deep, throaty sax and offered up the tune, Head Hunter. The crisp, clear trillin’ of sexy, saxy Jack started tonight’s jazz ball rolling. Keyboardist Tom Zink revealed his chops while the strings cats were head bobbin’ and drummer Winston Butts thumped his riffs. The true spirit of jazz took hold.

Jack~

“Thank you, very much! This one is the title track off my previous CD. It’s entitled, Window Shopping.”

Jack spoke to Greg Vail in the audience~

“You’d better get your horn, later Bro!”

The cut was a smooth, mellow glide on Jack’s soprano sax. His soul-piercing notes delivered an almost-indescribable experience. This guy can blow!

Jack~

“I want to say hello to Mr. Craig Sharmat!”

As they continued to play, the corner of my eye snagged a Jack hip wiggle as he cradled his sax watching guitarist Craig Sharmat’s solo. We were all in awe as Craig showed us what he was made of.

Jack~

“Here you go, here’s Tom Zink!”

Zink exploded with a foot stompin’ keyboard solo, then it was back to Jack in the sax zone. The man’s got the ‘it factor’! What more can I say? Stage-presence-personified describes Prybylski to a tee. Their finale included the beautiful music of Mr. Grover Washington.

Prybylski~

“Thank you, very much! So, you’re diggin’ that Grover Washington thing at the end? No??? At least Blake liked the Grover.”

Guitarist Blake Aaron (audience member)~

“Yeah!”

Jack~

“We’re gonna do a little Grover thing called Winelight.”

Jack hit it, nailed it and flew me to the moon with this one! They did Grover proud. Waiters were dancing and the crowd were loving it! Guitarist Craig Sharmat squeezed out an off-the-hook twang and the audience went nuts. He handed it off to Keyboardist, Tom Zink who earned a triple wow! A little magic anyone. Zink was amazing! The boys were all kickin’ it tonight! Tom volleyed it back to front stage, center, on-fire, sexy, saxy Jackzy. The man wailed on the sax, then took it down to sultry. Again, the crowd went crazy.

JP~

“Thank you. Another one off the CD is called Three Cats. I only have one at home!” he joked. Drummer Winston Butts shined his lovelight on this tune.

Jack~

“Are there any Duran, Duran fans in the audience? We’re gonna play one of their tunes. We’re gonna do some songs off the new CD, Out of The Box. This is the Duran tune, Save a Prayer.” Jack was back on soprano with his rock-solid vibe. The band was in sync. The tune was just, plain good.

Prybylski~

“Feel free after you’re done eating to get up and dance. On the table and chairs, please! This is another song off the Out of The Box CD. This is entitled, Hoodoo.” The guys carried it home to ‘mama’ once again!

Jack~

“Thank you, very much! Another song which is off the CD, available tonight.”

Audience member~

“Wooh!”

Jack~

“A fan favorite, Down To It.”

Prybylski knocked this one out of the park. I was enamored with his ability to have fun while he plays. There’s something innocent-yet-serious about New-York-Jack’s sax style.

Jack~

“Thank you very much! Before we play I want to mention what a nice group of guys I’ve got playin’ with me tonight.” He introduced the band. “Blake, how’d you get these guys so cheap?” Prybylski quipped. The crowd roared.”Here we go, back to it. This is the title track for my first CD. It’s called Soho Strut. This track proved Jack’s ability to make a sax strut, and he did! A volley to bassist David Levray thumped a short solo before the return to Jack. Guitarist Craig Sharmat’s sassy finale rounded it out perfectly.

Jack~

“While Craig switches guitars, we’re gonna play another tune called Bright Spot.”

Craig~

“Hey, Blake, thanks for the guitar!”

Blake~

“Yeah!”

Craig~

“Cool.”

Craig and Jack teamed up for another triple wow!

Jack~

“Craig Sharmat, ladies and gentlemen!”

Jack~

“Do we have any Jeff Lorber fans out there?” Jack joked, “Well, he’s not here! Here’s a tune from the days of jazz fusion. We’re gonna feature David Levray on bass.”

Bassist Levray had a cool-cat attitude as he gifted his thick bass vibe. Jack thwacked the tune on tenor while Zink lit up the keyboard once again! Jack sauntered through the audience, shaking hands, playing and crowd pleasing. Prybylski’s charisma flooded the venue as he covered every inch of the place. Jack P., you should know you made my writing job easy with the electricity that is you. Back to Levray digging deep into the bass. He was on it! Drummer Winston Butt’s style leveled a gut-rockin’ beat.

Jack~

“We’re gonna do another one off the CD. Are there any Rod Stewart fans in the house?” Jack went on to explain a hilarious story of mistaken identity he experienced at a cantina in Reno. He was mistaken for Stewart, sending a couple of fans running more than once for register tape signatures, convinced they’d stumbled upon thee Mr. Rod Stewart. “That night in Reno is the reason Do You Think I’m Sexy is on the CD. We’re gonna take a short break.”

I set my pen down for set two, but managed a few notes. From Grover Washington to Jack’s CD cuts, the music flowed on and on…These guys really kicked up some dust. Blake Aaron rocked it, rolled it and turned it inside out. The finale with saxophonist, Greg Vail and guitarist Blake Aaron took the elevator to the top! Drummer Winston Butts, now that was one fine solo, young man!

The most poignant song of the evening was Santa Faustina. Prybylski joined his special guest Blake Aaron to share the first live performance of his mother’s favorite song since her passing. Jack’s heartfelt performance set him above, ‘just-another-sax-guy’ on this tune. I am convinced, the spirit of love from a son to his mother remains on that stage. She’s smiling and proud! Thanks, Jack!

In answer to the question Jack poses, “No, Jack, I don’t think you’re sexy, I KNOW you’re sexy! Huge thanks to Jack Prybylski and his incredible West Coast band. Their debut was off-the-chain. Thank you, most of all, for your boundless energy and true love of Jazz. Our jazzy souls were full to the brim tonight. Thanks ‘mom’…

© July 2010 Lynn M. Olson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED