Project Grand Slam: Play

By Keith Hannaleck

Project Grand Slam shows why it helps to have veterans together for a recording session on Play.

PGS’s first venture into the radio ready world of tracks is “The Captain of Her Heart.” a fine cover of Double’s 1986 chart-topper, which also closes the album out with an instrumental version of the song. Notable vocalist Judie Tzuke, takes the song’s super cool vibes and smooth undertow and takes Play to a level where many fall short when covering a successful track.

That flavor and groove does not let up due to the stellar musicians that put this project together.  Project Grand Slam composed the majority of the album’s tracks with Robert Miller on bass, Haim Cotton on keyboards, Ron Thaler on drums, and Gilad Ronen on saxophone.

Each track is a foray into a combination of contemporary, fusion, jazz rock bliss. Besides “The Captain of Her Heart”, you get the full PGS instrumental treatment. The virtuosity of the musicianship on this CD is superb and it never falls short, hitting the mark regardless of the particularly difficult intricacies or style the band decides to cover.

What I found most appealing was this unit’s innate ability to provide the “quiet storm” sound with faultlessness and switch over to a much faster paced contemporary modern sound with a dash of rock and fusion to keep your senses alert and ready for changes at any moment. Quite simply this band does it all very well and the production value of Play is equal to the task giving the listener a clear and concise sound, accentuating every nuance and color of the jazz palette that you could possibly imagine with the exception of acid jazz.

If you are in a jazz mood and want to come out and Play this will give you terminal joy from start to finish.

** 4½ / 5 Stars

Reviewed - November 6, 2008

Tracks:

  • Studio One
  • Because She Said So
  • The Captain Of Her Heart (with Judie Tzuke)
  • Riding the Berks
  • Baal HaSulam
  • Harry Knuckles
  • Portrait of Katie
  • Out Of Tahini
  • Shades Of Memories
  • Heat 2007
  • Ode To Jerry
  • Doin' The Worm
  • The Captain Of Her Heart (Instrumental)

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About the Author:

Keith Hannaleck, known as “MuzikMan” is a Journalist specializing in independent and major music reviews and the promotion of artists via the various media outlets flourishing online. He has worked closely with artists, management, publicity directors, and webmasters to provide some of the best and far-reaching coverage an artist could have. Focusing primarily on the internet as a medium for his work, Keith has been a pioneer in the industry changing the way a reviewer with his various talents are used by many artists, PR folks, and labels. He has provided strong and valuable work to labels, artists, and publicity people, writing reviews, press releases, and biographies and much more over the years, giving the people he works with the maximum amount of exposure through several top-notch websites that post his content on their sites.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck - www.muzikreviews.com.