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GINETTA'S VENDETTA, Fun Size

Jonathan Widran

Deservedly recognized by UNESCO as a Jazz Ambassador, Ginetta Minichiello and her bold, boundary busting high octane four-piece ensemble have spread the Gospel of Jazz worldwide, covering all areas of the U.S. while cultivating enthusiastic fan bases everywhere from Uzbekistan, Vladivostok, Moldova, Jakarta, South America, Canada, Mexico and countless other international hotspots.


Despite that ongoing dizzying success, the multi-talented sensitively soulful yet hard swinging pocket trumpet master, singer, composer and bandleader states an even grander, uniquely American goal at the end of her press materials – to play at the Super Bowl halftime show!


Considering the flak both classic rockers and contemporary artists seem to receive after every year’s performance, the NFL should open its ears to the magnificent joys that Ginetta and her crew work up on the appropriately titled Fun Size, their first album in five years.


It’s testament to her dynamic composing skills that the two originals Ginetta contributes, the whimsical, sensually swinging and sass-filled gems “Blues for Pop-Pop (Holy Man)” and “Tell Me Your Story Walkin’ “ stack up magnificently with her spirited and innovative, improv-rich arrangements of classic Songbook tunes and jazz standards like “There Will Never Be Another You,” “Black Orpheus” (given an a dreamy expansive eight and a half minute caress), Miles Davis’ “All Blues” and Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower.”


While the core magic of Fun Size comes from the colorful duality between and tag-teaming of Ginetta and saxophonist Danny Walsh, usually followed by Jon Davis’ exuberant piano solos, Ginetta complements the instrumental excitement with several well-placed showcases for her expressively soulful vocals and complementary fascinating phrasing skills, including the nostalgic, lightly swinging “Moon River,” an elegant “Misty” and a sweet holiday-themed original “Christmastime.”


Not surprisingly considering the popularity as a touring band, Ginetta’s Vendetta recorded the eleven songs and three alternate takes in a single live straight through four-hour session!      

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