"Last September, a last minute cancellation at the Monterey Jazz Festival
gave local jazz-funk quintet
Catwalk the opportunity of a lifetime. “It was an honor,” writer/guitarist Joe
Menichetti says of the
band’s festival debut. “We were there playing one stage and at the same
time in the arena, Dave
Brubeck was playing … We felt really fortunate. There are so many great jazz
bands that would die to
play there.” But humble though Menichetti may be, the band’s lucky break
was most likely less kismet
and more merit-based. In lieu of the common clutch of careworn jazz
standards, Catwalk offers all
original compositions, fundamentally written by Menichetti and evolved in
rehearsal by the musical
prowess of the band’s other members; Scott McKenna (bass), Doug Rowan
(sax), Sid Thompson (drums)
and Jay Jackson (piano). In 2002, the five men, all seasoned Bay Area
musicians and according to
Menichetti, all “old friends,” got together to jam and Catwalk was born. The
band’s sonic foundation is
built on a deep-set groove that prominently features Rowan’s fierce sax.
The compositions are
innovative and imaginative, and draw from the members’ diverse musical
pedigree, which includes
rock, Celtic, funk, Latin and blues. But what makes Catwalk’s music
consistently accessible is the
frequent inclusion of catchy melodic motifs, a possible consequence, says
Menichetti, of his past
experience writing “pop-oriented” tunes. “With some of my jazz stuff, you
know, there are some hooks
there.” On maintaining Catwalk as an all-original project, Menichetti
describes the process as
challenging, but infinitely more rewarding. “It’s a little bit more risky, as far
as getting gigs,” he admits.
“It’s not as accepted. If no one’s ever heard the music, it requires an open
set of ears.” A challenge,
perhaps? Be sure to bring your open ears to the Kuumbwa this Thursday.
Amanda Martinez - Santa Cruz Good Times Weekly (Aug 29, 2007)
Read more
"Last September, a last minute cancellation at the Monterey Jazz Festival
gave local jazz-funk quintet
Catwalk the opportunity of a lifetime. “It was an honor,” writer/guitarist Joe
Menichetti says of the
band’s festival debut. “We were there playing one stage and at the same
time in the arena, Dave
Brubeck was playing … We felt really fortunate. There are so many great jazz
bands that would die to
play there.” But humble though Menichetti may be, the band’s lucky break
was most likely less kismet
and more merit-based. In lieu of the common clutch of careworn jazz
standards, Catwalk offers all
original compositions, fundamentally written by Menichetti and evolved in
rehearsal by the musical
prowess of the band’s other members; Scott McKenna (bass), Doug Rowan
(sax), Sid Thompson (drums)
and Jay Jackson (piano). In 2002, the five men, all seasoned Bay Area
musicians and according to
Menichetti, all “old friends,” got together to jam and Catwalk was born. The
band’s sonic foundation is
built on a deep-set groove that prominently features Rowan’s fierce sax.
The compositions are
innovative and imaginative, and draw from the members’ diverse musical
pedigree, which includes
rock, Celtic, funk, Latin and blues. But what makes Catwalk’s music
consistently accessible is the
frequent inclusion of catchy melodic motifs, a possible consequence, says
Menichetti, of his past
experience writing “pop-oriented” tunes. “With some of my jazz stuff, you
know, there are some hooks
there.” On maintaining Catwalk as an all-original project, Menichetti
describes the process as
challenging, but infinitely more rewarding. “It’s a little bit more risky, as far
as getting gigs,” he admits.
“It’s not as accepted. If no one’s ever heard the music, it requires an open
set of ears.” A challenge,
perhaps? Be sure to bring your open ears to the Kuumbwa this Thursday.
Amanda Martinez - Santa Cruz Good Times Weekly (Aug 29, 2007)
Local funky jazz five-piece Catwalk has gained a certain notoriety in town
for its tasty slabs of down-
home funk and soulful jazz stylings. Guitarist Joe Menichetti, drummer Sid
Thompson, bassist Scott
McKenna, saxophonist Doug Rowan and pianist Jay Jackson are Santa Cruz
locals to the core, though
their vibrant mixture of funk with fusion, Latin jazz, heartland rock and
searing blues would be equally
at home down in the Big Easy. While groups that try to put so many sources
into one hot and spicy
jambalaya often ruin the whole pot, Catwalk deftly keeps a reasonable
balance, with a wide-reaching
sensibility that never gets overly complex or academic. The band's wowed
the discerning Monterey Jazz
Festival crowd, and its 2006 release, Weather or Not, has earned the group
nods in national jazz
journals".
- Metro Santa Cruz (Aug 30, 2007)
"California based jazz fusion quintet Catwalk’s new album Weather or Knot
melts funk into jazz, blends
blues with swing and mixes salsa with soul. The gritty performances wielded
by sax-man Doug Rowan,
guitarist Joe Menichetti, drummer Sid Thompson, bassist Scott McKenna and
keyboardist Jay Jackson set
you up for an engaging listen, regardless of the climate......In summary, this
album is one I think most
jazz lovers will enjoy and appreciate. It is quite evident that these guys are
true players, well versed in
their craft. Equally obvious is that they have done everything right in
demonstrating their diversity in
the fusion-laced marketplace..."
Gerald H. Beulah, Jr. - Jazz Review.com (Apr 13, 2007)
"BEST LOCAL JAZZ ACT"- Bronze Award
- Metro Santa Cruz (Goldies Awards 2007) (Mar 30, 2007)
"Catwalk was well received at the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival. They
performed before an enthuisiastic
crowd
that was enthralled by the uniquely original compositions of guitarist Joe
Menichetti and driven home
by the rhythmic power of this first-rate band. Catwalk is the type of group
we like to present at
Monterey; creative, vibrant and fun".
Tim Jackson - General Manager Monterey Jazz Festival (Dec 7, 2006)
"First impressions: This CD is cooked to perfection by a group of master
chefs using all their skill,
creativity, and style to transform Joe Menichetti’s stand out recipes into a
magnificent feast for your
senses. Second impressions: I want more! So, I played it again, and again…
I didn’t know what to expect when I put the CD in my Home Theater system,
but once the music
started, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. As a “hard-core” Fusion fan, it
took a moment to realize
this more traditional Jazz recording had just blown me away. The
compositions are definitely the
highlight of the experience, and the band is so “together as one” that
listening to this CD makes me
wonder why Catwalk isn’t in every record store or on top of the Internet’s
Jazz favorite downloads list at
iTunes, Msn, and Yahoo. This is one of those CD’s that seems to get better
every time you hear it. I
should also mention that the production quality is superb and for you Hi-Fi
buffs, you’ll really
appreciate the mastering.
If Jazz bands were only as good as their financial success, I’d say that
Catwalk is playing way beyond
their pay grade. The music on WEATHER OR KNOT stands up under the
closest scrutiny. There’s
something here for every Jazz fan. While it seems today’s music business
has painted Jazz , Smooth
Jazz, and especially Fusion into a “marketing” corner outside of popular
music, that doesn’t mean the
music is anything short of spectacular.
Catwalk’s new CD is technically, improvisationally, and spiritually powerful
music that’s brimming with
joy. The powerful grooves and un-hurried approach gives the music a rich
luxurious texture that just
makes you feel good. Miles Davis alum Adam Holzman’s credo of
“Optimistic Music in the Age of Fear”
most appropriately fits the sound of Catwalk’s style.
If you like great instrumental music that sounds good, feels good, with no
lack for talent, this is one CD
you must own.
If I were a wealthy person, I’d buy it twice, and then one more time, just to
be sure I always had a good
copy".
Rick Calic - JAZZ ROCK WORLD (Sep 19, 2006)
"....Monterey upheld its position as one of the world's great jazz festivals,
giving those in attendance
(numbering over 40,000 this year, the most ever for Monterey) a strong
overview of the current jazz
scene.........58 separate sets took place on five simultaneously-operating
venues, all of which I
caught.......CATWALK, a very good quintet, played funky jazz that featured
tenor saxophonist Doug
Rowan and pianist Jay Jackson....."
Scott Yanow - L.A. JAZZ SCENE (Nov 4, 2006)
"This evening is a celebratory bash for Santa Cruz jazz/funk quintet Catwalk,
whose stellar new CD,
WEATHER OR KNOT, is packed full of catchy original compositions. Together
since 2002, writer/
guitarist Joe Menichetti, pianist Jay Jackson, saxophonist Doug Rowan,
bassist Scott Mckenna, and
drummer Sid Thompson swing through celtic, funk, blues, latin and jazz,
expanding their fan base with
every performance. Having scored an appearance at the upcoming Monterey
Jazz Festival, Catwalk are
clearly poised for big things".
Meribeth Malone - METRO SANTA CRUZ (Aug 30, 2006)
"Got the CD today.
Beautifully recorded and produced and everyone's playing is high caliber.....I
think people are going to
gulp it down like
expensive zinfandel at a wine tasting...... I'll be giving Catwalk airplay and
will be delving into the tunes
more deeply....."
Don Campau - KKUP RADIO (Aug 9, 2006)
© 2007 Catwalk
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