BIRD MANCINI

Bird Mancini (Homepage)

Not-so routine take on jazz blues with a roots feel; this Boston-based quartet chooses both electric and acoustic instruments amid imaginative arrangements peppered with clarinet, sax, fiddle, mandolin and a variety of exotic and Eastern instruments. Almost overnight, the structure of the music business took a small step forward and just about enjoyable, this disc is slow but steady. The Bird Mancini artists been heard at clubs, concerts and on television the past ten years, and collectively they have produced four critically acclaimed CD’s, and they have backed up some of the finest in the business including Lou Reed, Dr. John, Johnny Copeland, Gregg Allman, David Crosby and Jonathan Edwards. Made up of ex-members of groups like The Sky Blues, Bangalore, The Roys and Four Piece Suit, "The group weaves a distinctive, intriguing songs around a common thread of jazzy blues and rock" says their biography "Plus diverse stylistic influences, surprising instrumentation and great vocals". So this is not your regular cat sitting around playing rock guitar, only needed two strings and no talent required. The core musicians include Ruby Bird (vocals, keyboards, harmonica, melodica, accordion), Billy Carl Mancini (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars), Sven Larson (electric and stand-up bass, percussion) and David Roy Kulik (vocals, drums). On the table, amidst a wonderful disarray, lay a sheet of paper on which was scrawled: Champagne and Crossroads.