Gonzalo Bergara Quartet will play on October 27th at the Downtown Cocktail Room! Hot Club LV and Elvis Lederer playing a few solo gtr will open. Lastly a DJ playing vintage jazz tops off what will be a Djangoriffic night!

Hot Club of Las Vegas Featuring Carol Linnea Johnson
Original Release Date: December 12, 2008
Label: Fly’n Hawaiian Music Llc
www.hotclublasvegas.com

Lead Guitar – Mundo Juillerat
Contrabass – Chris Davis
Cajon – Gabriel Santana Falcon
Rhythm Guitar – Marlow Valentin
featuring Vocals of Carol Linnea Johnson

     I can’t think of a better place for a “Hot Club” than Las Vegas. With Gypsy Jazz being played all over the world these days, why not in one of the hottest cities in America. Besides, Vegas can always use a little culture with jazz being practically non-existent here. I have to give this band a new label though. I’ll call it “Gypsy Jazz Fusion” because the musicians are coming from so many different genres that you can’t put it in just one category.

     Two main differences are the sultry vocals of Carol Linnea Johnson who comes from a strong theater back round recently starring in the Vegas production of “Mamma Mia”. She makes every song she sings her own. Then you have Gabriel Falcon on the cajon, which is a box that he sits on and at times sounds like a full drum kit. Strong rhythm guitar playing by Marlow Valentin and rock solid bass playing by Chris Davis provide the vehicle for Mundo Juillerat to do his thing which is approaching Gypsy Jazz from a rock, pop, and R & B back round.

     While this CD is definitely Django style jazz, you’ll hear so many different influences from all the musicians, that it has a fresh approach. It’s entertaining and exciting and there’s no shortage of fine guitar work from Mundo. There are 14 tracks starting with the standard “Caravan” which lets you know right away that Carol and Mundo are serious. There is also some nice violin work by a special guest artist. If you want the traditional stuff, check out “China Boy”. A little Brazilian flavor mixed with Gypsy Jazz can be found on “Aqua De Beber”. Or if Latin jazz is your thing, check out “Sabor A Mi”. All together a great blend and worthy effort for their first CD. I’m sure you’ll hear a lot more from The Hot Club Of Las Vegas in the future. You can purchase the CD from CD Baby or download it from Amazon.

     Reviewed by Steve Cantor