Album Notes

Guest Artist HAL BLAINE Comments:
(World’s Greatest Drummer, Rock ‘N Roll Hall Of Famer, Founding Member Of The Legendary Wrecking Crew)
“My friend Alan Bernhoft called me recently. “Hal, I’m trying to do a project for my Uncle George. He filled me in on the particulars and it was just the easiest and most pleasant job I ever had. Alan showed up at my desert home with a microphone, a snare drum and a head set. He had his micro mixing board, plugged it in, checked my level and away we went.”

Where Or When
“A great harmonica player, in the pure and simple style of the great players of yore. There was some magic in Uncle George’s playing, his phrasing and his feel for the song. Ya gotta hear it and experience what I felt.”

Bewitched
“This standard is one of the great classics of all time and the songs that follow are of the same ilk. We had a great day and I’ll tell you about the particulars as I add them to my discography.”

Summertime
“Talk about your classics, Uncle George did a beautiful job on this timeless opus. Truly a work of art. Alan had promised his Uncle George that someday he would produce an L.P. for him. Playing for this warm gentleman with a harmonica was truly a work of art. Good stuff and I was happy to help.”

My Funny Valentine
“Uncle George’s rendition of this classic song was being played with such warmth that it would have been impossible not to have played perfectly. I sang this song so many times and have accompanied many singers on record, T.V. and film versions. This song, like others were second nature to me. Let’s face the fact that people who are moved by certain strains of music are usually very simpatico folks. I know that I am and proud of it.”



About Uncle George
"Around 1957, I was a junior, attending Jesuit High in New Orleans, struggling to keep up with the future doctors, dentists, NASA scientists, etc. I was self-learning how to play the chromatic harmonica, the vision of my older brother and mother, to be a classical harmonica virtuoso. We lived in a two story house with an upper screened porch in an older neighborhood of The Crescent City. In those years, high school R&R bands within the Big Easy used to "battle " each other over who was the best band in the City. Saturday night sock hops in school auditoriums were the battlegrounds. One such band was called the SPADES. All the guys were in Jesuit High. I, rather wanting to play rhythm and blues, approached the band for a tryout and offered my front porch(as a carrot) in which to rehearse. Trumpet, sax,trombone,drums,electric guitar. The guitarist, a sophomore, was gaining a reputation as being way ahead of his peers in playing skills... guy by name of Mac Rebennack. He lived about five blocks from me. So, we rehearsed several times until the complaints started flowing from neighbors. I got to play night train several times with the group, but it was apparent that my skills and the chromatic just weren't going to keep up with them. So, we parted ways amiably. Mac dropped out of Jesuit in his junior year , and, after changing to the piano and changing his name to Dr. John, made a bit of a name for himself. The rest, as they say, is history." -Uncle George, on the early days in New Orleans.

George Aiuvalasit- Chromatic Harmonica, ...David Kaufman- Guitar, ...Alan Bernhoft- Drums, Bass, Additional Guitar, ...HAL BLAINE- SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST- SNARE DRUM BRUSHWORK (#3,5,7,9), ...Produced By Alan Bernhoft at A.I.M. studios, Los Angeles, CA

REVIEW:
Uncle George has finally done it! "Uncle George" is George Aiuvalasit and his friends have been after him for years to make a record so that the rest of the world can understand what it is we love so much about him and his wonderful jazz playing on the chromatic harmonica. And now here we are with "Chromonica Jazz" that he is finally sharing with the world. I have jammed with George on many occasions and even been involved in a recording project (non-jazz) and am one of those friends who is happy to share George with the world.
At the urging and technical know how of his nephew, Alan Bernhoft, George has laid down some tracks that are great to kick back, relax, and just enjoy. With 19 of the greatest "standards" that have ever been written you just can't go wrong when combined with the sweet sound and relaxed style that "Uncle" George brings to this project. I, along with George's friends are so pleased that we can now share him with a world that has been waiting for these easy sounds. My one problem is that I can't figure out how George gets such a sweet sound on that harmonica when I know that the reeds have been soaked in Chicory that flavors the coffee that this Louisiana native still loves to drink Chicory Jazz...that's it!
...Bob Burns Jazz Librarian and host of ""Burnsland" jazz radio KRWG-FM (90.7) (NPR) Las Cruces, New Mexico (streaming @ KRWGFM.ORG)