James Riswick
Assistant A&E Editor
Imagine big band music without the big band. That’s a pretty good way to describe Jim Bianco’s music, along with words like innovative, refreshing, amusingly down to earth and sincerely emotional.
Bianco’s sound is an eclectic mix — a great-sounding jumble of different genres and even time periods — that produces an almost throwback style that is nonetheless tremendously refreshing in its uniqueness. There are clearly swing jazz with 1930s big band and country-esque blues influences at work as well as probably several others my unsophisticated ear can’t pick up. His raspy vocals infused with a Long Island accent provide the music with an entirely different and essential element that reminds one of a very slick, more sedated, Joe Cocker. It’s his voice that provides his often cheeky lyrics with a thundering sincerity that takes one consistently by surprise and awes with its raw passion for the music he is producing.
The lyrics that voice sings are also special as Bianco has a knack for writing clever, fun lyrics. “Spaghetti straps upon a/ marinara dress stiletto heals/ and a cross across your chest,” was a line that stuck with me immediately upon hearing it in the song “Goodness Gracious.” The following line of “come on in, you sure look pertty/ the sheets are clean but the mind is dirty” is an excellent example of the cheeky lyrics that leave the audience either laughing or going, “darn, that’s impressive.”
Although you can get an idea of Bianco’s song writing on CD or via iTunes, it simply doesn’t compare to the live experience. Hearing Bianco on CD is good, hearing Bianco and his band on stage is something you simply can’t miss. Along with his five-member band (two of which play multiple instruments), Bianco’s sound explodes on stage, filling a cozy space like the Hotel Café in Hollywood with raw, infectious music.
Joining Bianco, who plays a finger-plucked acoustic guitar on stage, is drummer (Jason Pipkin), stand-up bass player (Joe Zimmerman), lead guitarist (Kenny Lyon) (who has a passing resemblance to actor Geoffrey Rush), saxophone player Matt Demerritt and Brad Gordon who does back-up vocals, plays the piano, accordion, clarinet, a mini-pocket trumpet and probably could muster some notes out of a kitchen sink if he wanted to. This mixed bag of instruments and talented musicians are amazing to listen to and watch — in fact, they are worth the Hotel Café’s $8 cover alone.
Perhaps the best example of their talent can be heard in Bianco’s “Two Birds.” On CD there is a very brief piano solo that is extremely underwhelming after hearing Demerritt’s raucously dirty-sounding intro to his saxophone solo on the live version of the song. The “Two Birds” sax solo along with the several others sprinkled through Bianco’s set are simply awesome, as are Gordon’s mini-trumpet solos, both of which add to Bianco’s distinct sound. Especially on those songs from Bianco’s 2002 release “Well Within Reason,” the band creates a much richer sound that really showcase Bianco’s songwriting and musical talent.
As good as that talent is, however, Bianco’s stage presence and performance are what truly seal the deal. A friend commented that it almost appears that the music is exploding from Bianco — as if it’s locked inside him and there’s nothing he can do to prevent it from getting out. Again, it’s a tad Joe Cocker, but certainly not as spastic or aneurism-like, and it really shows the emotion and sincerity Bianco puts into his music.
However, the show itself is very down to earth — Bianco and his band never seem to be showing off, and he connects with the audience better than anyone I’ve ever seen before.
They have been performing every Wednesday in February at the Hotel Café (near the Hollywood Bowl on Cahuenga between Sunset and Hollywood boulevards) which is a cozy, yet stylish hole-in-the-wall establishment — it’s easy to miss as the entrance is in an adjacent alley. He’ll be there again next week at 9 p.m. and it’s a show that’s most definitely worth the drive. For more information visit www.jimbianco.com.
02-17-2005
