Album Notes

Paul Anastasio is a great swing jazz violinist from Seattle, Washington. He studied with Joe Venuti, the originator of jazz violin, back in the 1970s. As a touring musician he played with Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard, and many other bands, but at heart he's always remained a jazzer. Inspired by the violin playing of Stuff Smith and Svend Asmussen (as well as Venuti), he plays with great rhythmic drive and melodic invention. On this CD, he is paired with guitarist and vocalist Tony Marcus. Marcus (from the San Francisco Bay Area) has performed with R. Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders, Cats & Jammers, Geoff Muldaur, The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Leftover Dreams and many more. On this disc, Anastasio & Marcus play great standards (and not-so-standards) in an informal manner. Aside from a few overdubs of harmony violin and guitar solos the album was recorded live, with minimal studio sweetening. The acoustic sound of the violin and guitar played by two fine musicians jamming together and having a great time is a rare treat in this day of overprocessed and multi-layered pablum.