Here are some reviews (mostly in french) of our 1st release:
The Nick Ayoub Quintet – The Montreal Scene ETR-CD-01
The Gazette :
Nick Ayoub Quintet
The Montreal Scene
(Ear This Records)
Rating: four stars out of five
This hard-bop session recorded in Montreal in 1964 and transferred digitally from the masters is more than just a slice of musical history: it is a window on the vibrant scene, featuring five strong players. It features the late tenor saxophonist Nick Ayoub, who wrote four of eight originals, trumpeter Alan Penfold, pianist Art Roberts, bassist Michel Donato and drummer Cisco Normand. The music is mainly up-tempo – from the exotic opener, Report from Cairo, to the sizzling Pillsville and a two-part portrait of the city, east and west. The recording is not perfect – the piano is under-miked and there are some “bumps. ” But passionate playing and sparkling tunes more than compensate. An added treat: the late Len Dobbin’s original liner notes and his look back at the era.
-Irwin Block ©2009
The Montreal /Mirror
Nick Ayoub Quintet
The Montreal Scene (Ear This/RCA Victor)
This reissue offers a journey back to 1964, when the city’s jazz scene was hopping. Saxophonist Ayoub had a taste for hard bop and brought a clear Arab influence to his work. Nothing revolutionary here, but the music puts swing and individuality first. Today’s Montreal scene could learn from this music. Excellent notes from 1964 and 2009 by Len Dobbin, a true friend of jazz if ever there was one. 7/10 Trial Track: “Ya Habibi” (Gordon Allen)
