Toronto based mad genius Kevin Breit is back, this time with a mandolin or 12. While he is best known as a brilliant blues and jazz guitarist (I once saw him and his band the Sisters Euclid match notes with Frank Zappa‘s Mothers of Invention at a folk fest many moons ago), this time he turns his attention to something different— the mandolin. But even these mandolins aren’t what you would call normal mandolin playing.
While Breit himself isn’t down on the CD as playing a mandolin at all, he has assembled an orchestra, the Upper York Mandolin Orchestra, consisting of a baker’s dozen mandolinists, mandolaists and mandocellists plus one double bassist.
The result is a fascinating mish mash of classical music, experimental jazz music, French cabaret music and even a blues song written in honour of Big Bill Broonzy.
Throughout I believe that is Breit singing over an intricately weaved tapestry of mandoliny goodness.
Who would have thought a chorus of mandolins could sound this good.
He sings a lot of catchy melodies throughout like on “Boom Chicka Boom.” And the mandolin orchestra displays an array of different sounds and tones.
“Heavyweight Champion of the World is a sweet, folk/ classical tinged highlight on the CD.
Field Recording is a very enjoyable effort which shows Breit continuing to push the boundaries of music and mandolins.
Artist: Kevin Breit and the Upper York Mandolin Orchestra
Genre: Folk
