Paul Vornhagen ‘Live at The Blue Llama’ (Global Pulse Records)
Recorded at the stylish Ann Arbor jazz club with reedman flutist and vocalist Paul Vornhagen and his Quartet, a veteran of the Detroit area jazz scene and winner of the Detroit Music Awards as a bandleader, recording artist and instrumentalist. This “working combo” creates a vibrant chemistry on stage with riveting interplay, sensitive accompaniment and sizzling solos, which is instantly apparent from the first song to the last.
The recording demonstrates the combos’ versatility stylistically with choice jazz standards and Paul’s melodically satisfying compositions. Swing, Latin, bop, funky, 6/8 and jazz waltz are some of the explorations, with three romantic vocal songs (3, 6, 10). Paul has also performed for decades in the San Francisco Bay area, Chicago, Toledo, Cincinnati and more. He is the bandleader and composer for the popular Latin jazz combo and PKO recording artist, TUMBAO BRAVO.
PAUL VORNHAGEN—SAXOPHONES/FLUTE/ VOCALS
PAT CRONLEY–PIANO
PATRICK PROUTY–BASS
LARRY OCHILTREE-DRUMS
“Gutsy sax, sensuous flute and vocals smooth as silk” JAZZ TIMES
“Muscular, confident, hip tenor sax….a heartland Sonny Rollins” MIDWEST JAZZ
“On vocals, Paul Vornhagen is Michigan’s answer to Harry Connick, Jr.” CHICAGO SUN TIMES
“Especially impressive on the flute, with that intimate caressing breath.” JAZZIZ
“His tenor sax is robust with the heart of a romantic” DETROIT JAZZ
” ,,,, warm and expansive on the soprano sax” DOWNBEAT