David Joel: Electric and Acoustic Guitars
John Stenger: Keyboards
Paul Gehman: Electric and Acoustic Bass
Dan Monaghan: Drums
“Sometimes what’s missed in electric jazz fusion is a slowly steeped fire. This has it.”
~ Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson – WXBC Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
“David Joel is a talented guitarist and he leads his quartet though a very good set of contemporary jazz. The songs are reminiscent of Weather Report with the addition of guitar. Occasionally Joel cuts loose and shows off his considerable chops. RIYL: Weather Report (3 stars).”
~ Les French – WMEB-Orono, ME
“Exciting progressive electric jazz which is sure to attract younger listeners!”
~ Peter Kuller – Radio Adelaide – Australia
“I gave another listen and again enjoyed your talents as a player and composer. It sounds like your imagination and spirit are in excellent shape and that you are pursuing your own special voice.”
~ Jon Damian – International guitarist, arranger, published author, educator, Professor – Berklee College of Music
“What I like about this cd is the diversity of moods and colors as you go from tune to tune. There’s a sense of unique and honest expression throughout.”
~ Ken Pullig – Chairman, Jazz Composition Department, Berklee College of Music
“This is the music of a talented guitarist experimenting in the influences that he has been exposed to. The other members of the band who make up the quartet are along for the ride and provide support on the road to discovery. If you like solid guitar playing, a powerful back up band and a fusion style, then check out Spiral Sky.”
~ Paul J, Youngman, jazzreview.com
“David Joel and company paint landscapes of sound, starry meditative explorations and turn the listener to traveler, inviting them to let the quartet be a guide to musical challenges and unique structures.”
~ Greg Trout, magnaphonemagazine.com
DAVID JOEL QUARTET/Spiral Sky: The Philly jazz scene has long had it’s share of notables and guitar man Joel is the latest to add his name to that crew. With some of the crack hitters in town in tow giving a well rounded picture of what’s going on in jazz in those parts these days, this is a crisp outing from an educated educator that hasn’t let all that teaching cramp his playing. Solid contemporary electric jazz that is right on the money.
Lisa Reedy
MidwestRecord.com
David Joel is a versatile guitarist who uses the sound breaking innovations of fusion in his playing but is also quite capable of playing viable straight ahead jazz and blues too. He graduated from Berklee in 1986, earned a Masters from the New England Conservatory of Music, and has been based in his native Philadelphia since 1996. He has since taught extensively, performed in plays, and led his own quartet on the East Coast.
On Spiral Sky, Joel teams up with the colorful keyboardist John Stenger, bassist Paul Gehman, and drummer Don Monaghan. The group performs eight of Joel’ s originals which range from rockish pieces to the quieter “Little Bear,” from major productions like “Spiral Sky” to the bluish “The Star-Spangled Gospel.” While Gehman and Monaghan are stimulating in support, Joel and Stenger are the main solo voices, creating unpredictable improvisations and a wide variety of colors in the ensembles. The music is “contemporary” without being smooth or pop; nor is it limited to the style of 1970s fusion. It has the “sound of surprise” of the best jazz yet crosses several genres and can be best described as modern electric music.
This varied and recommended set is available from www.davidjoel.net.
Scott Yanow
LA Jazz Scene
Mark Robinson
George FM
David Joel: Guitar
Jeff Knottner: Keyboards
Paul Gehman: Electric and Acoustic Bass
Scott Robinson: Drums
Tony Deangelis: Drums
