Led by Les DeMerle's dynamic drumming, his band swings hard with tight arrangements ...Bonnie Eisele is the powerful centerpiece of this exciting act adding just the right touch...
The 10th recording of renowned drummer Les DeMerle for Origin Records, Hot Night In Venice captures the fire, excitement and bristling energy Les has been bringing to world stages for over 50 years. And a show it is, as his longtime quartet offers up tight arrangements of jazz classics and serious in-the-pocket blues, but most of all, the band is groovin' hard, havin' fun and swingin' big time. Bonnie Eisele's sensitive, sassy vocals highlight the set, creating an ambiance that adds to the feeling of being at the club enjoying the set. From his ground-breaking Transfusion band of the late '60s, taking over Buddy Rich's seat with the Harry James Orchestra for 12 years, or his tours with the Manhattan Transfer and Wayne Newton, Les DeMerle has always been about elevating the band, bringing a visceral, unbridled dynamism to the stage.
"Eisele and DeMerle are a hot combination. Her powerful voice and natural feel for rhythm come across in an explosive stage performance. His energy is absolutely contagious." - Florida Times-Union
Track Listing:
1. Introduction 0:14
2. Perdido 4:28
3. Down By The Riverside 5:40
4. Manteca 4:30
5. All That Jazz 2:42
6. Frim Fram Sauce 3:46
7. Day In Day Out 4:06
8. Woe Is Me 2:54
9. The Very Thought Of You 4:27
10. The Lady Is A Tramp 3:14
11.Peel Me A Grape 4:06
12. Girl From Ipanema 4:52
13. All Right OK You Win 2:49
14. Night Train 3:25
15. Comin Home Baby 3:00
16.You Are My Sunshine 3:08
17. Splanky 2:32
Performers:
Les DeMerle - Drums/Vocals
Bonnie Eisele - Vocals
Johannes Bjerregaard - Piano
Chris Luard - Bass
Production Info:
Produced by Les DeMerle & Bonnie Eisele, Music Unlimited Productions
Recorded by Federico Nalesso, live at the Venice Jazz Club, Venice, Italy, August 16, 2014
Mixed by Johannes Bjerregaard at Amber Pennington Music, Lubbock, TX
Mastered by Dan Dean at Dan Dean Productions, Inc, Mercer Island, WA
Original Cover Art: Peter Nixon; Photos: Caroline Blochlinger, Bonnie Eisele-DeMerle, Les DeMerle
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Hot Night In Venice: Live at The Venice Jazz Club
Midwest Record (Chris Spector)
A working muso for over 50 years, he knows how to give a crowd what it wants but this is an important recording for him. In the past he's seemed like an affable cat playing pretty for the people but this time around, he's more in touch with his hard hitting jazzbo side than he's shown in the past. Leading from the back of the riser, he's energized ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Recorded at the Venice Jazz Club in Italy back in 2014, this album is a swinging affair with drummer, vocalist and leader Les DeMerle leading a trio with Johannes Bjerregaard/p and Chris Luard snapping through some standards and occasionally joined by the big band era influence vocalist Bonnie Eisele on an anthological gig of American tunes.
In ...
