Jazz Mandolin Project Jungle Tango CD

There was a time when Jamie Masefield was playing in 5 different bands on a number of different instruments and freelancing gigs across New England. But in none of these experiences was he getting to play jazz on the mandolin. In 1993, he began booking one night a month at a non-profit coffeehouse in Burlington called The Last Elm Café, a move that put his vision on the map. The name, "the Jazz Mandolin Project" began as a personal title toward a goal and the monthly gig at the coffeehouse soon became the target of his energy. As Masefield developed this monthly gig, the other bands gradually fell away to make way for his growing aspiration. In the beginning, the group consisted of any jazz players that would come and play for a donation at the door. The premise was that it wouldn't be looked at as a strict jazz gig but a session where the musicians would play whatever moved them, no matter what genre it took them to. They would play for themselves and hope that the excitement would translate to the audience as well. And it did. Eventually, as the gig grew more popular, the first real incarnation of the project took shape with Gabe Jarrett (son of Keith Jarrett) on drums and Stacey Starkweather on electric bass. The Jazz Mandolin Project soon found itself touring nationally and in the summer of 96 made it's debut in Europe performing at prestigious events such as the North Sea Jazz Festival in Den Haag, Holland. Their debut CD, The Jazz Mandolin Project, was released on Sept. 3, 1996 on Accurate Records. The critically acclaimed album, with tracks like "The Country Open", further helped to propel them forward as critics and fans took notice of a new sound. At the end of 1997, after years of touring, the first incarnation of JMP played its last gig so that each member could continue his own interests and the project could remain fresh and invigorating. To ring in the New Year right, Jamie took the opportunity to call some of his favorite musicians to form a tour of change, a waylay in the middle. Jon Fishman (Phish) was his first call (they had played together in a side project called "Bad Hat" which also included Trey Anastasio and Stacey Starkweather). Upright bassist, Chris Dahlgren received the next call. Masefield had met the New York City musician at a jam session and was impressed with his innovativeness and versatility. The "Tour de Flux" was born, an 8-week adventure of intense rehearsing and giging across the country. The return home put them in the studio, recording an album to document it all. The CD, Tour de Flux, was released on Accurate Records on January 26, 1999. Critics saw this as a significant departure from the first album, in the direction of a more acoustic jazz, emphasized by the acoustic bass. Bob Blumenthal, writer for the Boston Globe and DownBeat magazine wrote, "If the jazz world gave awards for the most improved ensemble, the Jazz Mandolin Project would be a serious contender. Masefield has progressed by leaps and bounds." After Tour de Flux, Dahlgren stayed on to continue the great chemistry that had developed with Masefield. After working with a few drummers, Dahlgren brought to Jamie's attention the phenomenon of young drummer, Ari Hoenig who came on board to mark the next great phase of the project. This exciting line up continued to develop a unique approach while playing to packed houses. Amidst the touring, the famous jazz label, Blue Note Records took notice of the group's ability to bring jazz to young open minded ears and signed them for an album. On May 4, 2000, the Jazz Mandolin Project's major label debut was released. Xenoblast was given 4 stars in a review in DownBeat that said, "Masefield and company may constitute the world's most creative and most unusual power trio" (Philip Booth). With an intense touring schedule eventually Danton Boller replaced Dahlgren on upright and added a new rhythmically powerful sound that provided a logical extension to the evolving creative process in