Within a brisk two and half years, Jennifer Hartswick has entrenched herself as a household name within the jam-band community. When few had ever heard her name, Trey Anastasio, the scene's prevailing musician, offered her the chance of a lifetime and she seized the opportunity. With vivacious lead vocals and choreographed dance steps, she quickly became more than just a trumpet player, but a charismatic fan favorite who brought an unexpected life to an otherwise session players position. Now, a couple of famous venues and memorable soldout gigs later, Hartswick presents her debut release, Fuse. A diverse recording that grows from her more jam friendly adventures with Anastasio, while adding her own unique flavor of soul, pop, and jazz...with a little help from her friends.
With fellow Anastasio bandmates, Ray Paczkowski on keys, Russ Lawton on drums, Dave Grippo on sax and Andy Moroz on trombone, stylistically, things remain relatively familiar, though the compositions gain distinction now that Hartswick is the new leader on board. Adding fresh tonalities, guitarist Dave Diamond and bassist Chris "Bullah" Henry round out the multi-faceted combination.
Beginning with a greasy organ intro from Paczkowski, the opener, "What If I," showcases Hartswick's yearnings for smooth R&B displayed within a seducing mirage of jazzy soul. "Perfect" is a jamboree of groove that sways with the band's tight arrangements, along with Grippo's swanky saxophone lead. "Mama's Not Laughing" skips beside an up-tempo line that is sophisticated yet entertaining, with a sudden operatic chorus that keeps the improvisational spirit alive, even within the vividly structured song format.
The latter half of the album dives head first into Hartswick's more recent exploratory realm with songs such as the title track and "First Tuba," pushing the boundaries of her more comfortable jazz surroundings. "Fuse," in particular, is a bouncy mix of bass, horns and keys that rival some of TAB's finer moments. "Refuse" and "Meet Me" continue to build upon the collective strengths of her funk friendly band, while utilizing their solid jazz backgrounds.
Fuse is a spicy debut, proving Hartswick to be more than just Trey's trumpet player, but rather a talented musician with her own promising solo career.
To read more about Jennifer Hartswick, please visit Glide Magazine's exclusive interview with her, featured in our March 2003 issue.
