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Gypsy Schaeffer

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186
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: New Album

Read "New Album" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Gypsy Schaeffer, the foursome made up by Joel Yennior (trombone), Andy Voelker (saxophones), Chris Punis (drums) and Jef Charland (bass) calls its third CD quite simply New Album. That's a truism, as is the fact that it continues to make music that is fun and enjoyable.

The writing, ascribed to the group collectively, as well as to Yennior and Voelker individually, moves from swing to open-ended improvisation, the band demonstrating its ability to sit comfortably in all the ...

130
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: Portamental

Read "Portamental" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


For Gypsy Schaeffer's followup to its 2004 debut recording, the group presents a similar pattern. The band consists of the same personnel, with the exception of bassist Jef Charland, who replaces Edward Perez. The ensemble takes its name from a bordello in the turn-of-the-century Storyville section of New Orleans where Jelly Roll Morton once punched the proverbial time clock. Most of the band has worked with the cutting edge Boston-based Either/Orchestra, and it shows.

It is quite understandable ...

142
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: Portamental

Read "Portamental" reviewed by J Hunter


It makes sense that Gypsy Schaeffer is named for a New Orleans whorehouse, albeit one that boasted Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton as parlor musicians. Reedman Andy Voelker and trombonist Joel Yennior have a sound and a dynamic that would fit into almost any NOLA unit, and the lack of a piano in this group makes Voelker and Yennior the primary tone-setters on its second self-released disc, Portamental.

That said, please don't get this New England quartet ...

171
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: Portamental

Read "Portamental" reviewed by Jim Santella


Based in Boston, Gypsy Schaeffer is a modern jazz quartet that marches to a different drummer. The unique and forward-leaning foursome brings a fresh sound to the forum, exploring jazz from various angles.

The band's instrumentation stands apart from the hoi polloi of jazz. Without a chording instrument like the piano or guitar, Gypsy Schaeffer is able to create harmonic structures through alternative means. Bass, saxophone and trombone weave delicate lines to depict modal harmonies as well as ...

113
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: Portamental

Read "Portamental" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The Gypsy Schaeffer of New Orleans fame was a bordello where, of course, music could be heard, including the live and in-person sounds of jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton, among others. The Gypsy Schaeffer of Boston is a pianoless quartet featuring trombonist Joel Yennior (of Either/Orchestra fame), saxophonist Andy Voelker, bassist Jef Charland and drummer Chris Punis.Lineups without a chording instrument--eg. piano or guitar--allow groups more freedom, often making for a more elastic and freewheeling sound. On Portamental, ...

283
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: Gypsy Schaeffer

Read "Gypsy Schaeffer" reviewed by Ken Franckling


Some of the greatest, and often warped, band names bubble out of New Orleans. Consider the Molly Ringwalds, Late As Usual, Hipatitis, and the Can’t Hardly Playboys. Then there’s Gypsy Schaeffer, a foursome that hails from Boston, but borrowed its name from N’Awlins—specifically, from the name of the Storyville bordello where legendary pianist Jelly Roll Morton cut his musical teeth. Gypsy Schaeffer’s indeed.

It’s a rather ironic choice, given that this adventuresome quartet has no pianist in its midst. In ...

98
Album Review

Gypsy Schaeffer: Gypsy Schaeffer

Read "Gypsy Schaeffer" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


A lot of good things come out of Boston and some good things remain there. Let the latter be; the former is of the moment and it concerns the four musicians who went to that city from their home towns. They stayed there drawn by the music scene and when fate cast its dice, they came together to make some of their own. On this recording the compositions come from Andy Voelker and Joel Yennior. The music is varied and ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

New Album

Peace Time Records
2009

buy

Portamental

Self Produced
2007

buy

Portamental

Self Produced
2006

buy

Gypsy Schaeffer

Unknown label
2004

buy

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