Album Notes

As soon as Tim Berens and Dan Faenhle began playing duets together, listeners suggested they should record a CD. "Live at Sips Café" captures their uniquely intricate ensemble work, which at times sounds like one guitarist with four hands.

The title "Live at Sips Café" tells much of the story. The CD was recorded before a live audience over two recording sessions at Sips Café. The audience remained silent during the recording, which allowed a luscious, rich sound to be captured.

Just Jazz Guitar Magazine said "two players who can burn with the best....great players playing great tunes."

Reviewer Paul Barbatono said, "Live at Sips Café is a gorgeous collection of standards and truly one of the prettier and more enlightening jazz albums I have heard this year."

Tim Berens is an orchestral guitarist, an arranger and a soloist for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, as well as an active and avid jazz guitarist. He has performed on more than 35 CDs with the Cincinnati Pops and other orchestras, toured nationally and internationally, been featured as a soloist on many nationally telecast PBS specials and has performed as a soloist center stage at Carnegie Hall with the Pops. "Live at Sips Café" is the third jazz CD he has released as a leader.

Beginning in 2000, Dan Faehnle stepped into the guitar chair with Diana Krall, performing on numerous world tours, television shows, radio and media events. As an integral part of the Diana Krall quartet for three years, Dan garnered accolades from such publications as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, JazzTimes and Downbeat magazines, as well as many international publications. Dan has released two CDs as a leader and has appeared on more than 15 CDs with numerous groups, including the popular band Pink Martini, Joey De Francesco, Terry Gibbs, and Leror Vinneger.

Mike Sharfe is one of those off-the-radar bassists who plays as well as nearly any jazz bassist on the planet, yet is largely unknown outside of his hometown. Mike's hard driving, hard swinging time feel give the cuts on this recording the energy and excitement they need to make your toes tap and your head bob reflexively up and down.