...an incredibly accomplished virtuoso...an improviser and composer of deep expressiveness, wit, and crisply focused execution... Thomas' music breaks some molds, but it never abandons a connection to tango's fiery melancholy, deep sense of groove, and rhythmic drive.
Rooted deep in the traditional rhythms of Argentine tango, yet fearlessly modern in spirit, multi-instrumentalist Ben Thomas' compositions offer a rich tapestry of layered polyrhythms, inventive melodies, and surprising contrasts. Echoes of great bandoneon maestros like Dino Saluzzi, Astor Piazzolla and Osvaldo Pugliese may surface, but always refracted through Ben's personal vision and the splendid accompaniment of his longtime bandmates, clarinetist Eric Likkel and bassist Steve Schermer, along with violinists Laura Coronel and Elizabeth Phelps, and pianist Gabe Hall-Rodrigues. The album's title celebrates the memory of Seattle's larger-than-life French chef, Thierry Rautureau—well known as The Chef in the Hat—whose thriving bistro "LUC" served as the incubator for much of this music over Thomas' several years of performances there.
"...strong rhythmic structures, flowing tempo changes, melancholy, exuberant happiness—a beautiful tango nuevo album!" Jazz'N'More, Switzerland
Track Listing:
1 The Promise of Morning 3:56
2 Sonia's Mask 5:08
3 The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle 4:14
4 Eric's Vals 4:47
5 Other Afternoons 5:22
6 An Unapologetic Shift of Perspective 5:00
7 Valley Shroud 4:31
8 The Second Brick 3:58
All compositions by Ben Thomas
(Malletman Music, ASCAP)
Performers:
Ben Thomas - bandoneon, vibraphone, percussion
Eric Likkel - clarinet
Steve Schermer - bass
Laura Coronel - violin
Elizabeth Phelps - violin
Gabe Hall-Rodrigues - piano
Production Info:
Produced by Ben Thomas
Recorded & mixed by Ben Thomas
at Concinnity Studios, Seattle, WA
Mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering, Seattle, WA
Cover art by Sylvia Kurin / Group photo by Jamie Maschler
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle
Jazz Weekly (George Harris)
Playing bandoneon as well as vibes and percussion, Ben Thomas takes the ideas of Astor Piazzolla to the next level with a mix of sophistication and warmth on this album of originals. Teamed with Eric Likkel/cl, Ste4ve Schermer/b, Laura Coronel-Elizabeth Phelps/vi and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues/p Thomas puts the "nuovo" in "Tango Nuovo" with the fingers pr ...
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
5 STARS Ben Thomas and the Future of the Bandoneon: A Cultural Mirage in Motion.
Astor Piazzolla didn't merely master the bandoneon, he redrew its boundaries. In sound, in form, in phrasing, he etched into musical history an invisible yet indelible rulebook, shaping what the instrument was and what it could be. For decades, those contours held f ...
Musical Memoirs (Dee Dee McNeil)
Ben Thomas makes music in a world where tradition and innovation meet. He is deeply rooted in the authentic rhythms of Argentine tango, yet his spirit has a more modern perspective. Consequently, his compositions combine the traditional with the contemporary.
Opening with "The Promise of Morning" Gabe Hall-Rodrigues sets the tone on his piano ...
avxforum.hu (Budapest) (Rudolf Radnai)
Ben Thomas' Tango Project album has a particularly interesting and unusual sound, the title of which evokes the memory of a famous chef, and despite the bandoneon sound, the music has little to do with Argentine tango, but rather the imprints of Thomas's personality, layered polyrhythms, with inventive melodies and surprising contrasts. ...
All About Jazz (Jack Bowers)
On The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle, his sixth recording as leader of the Tango Project, composer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Thomas once again invites his audience to put on their dancing shoes and sway to Argentina's unique and emblematic musical genre. In doing so, he affirms that there is far more than one way to tango, eliciting all the ...
