Press Kit: Reviews

Letter From America

  • "Bravely original...The new generation's Frisell, Hemmings' mixture of cultures, influences, and genres exploring the edges of harmony and rhythm is remarkably fresh and a complete success. Like another forward thinker, Ken Vandermark, Hemmings is pushing the boundaries of convention and structure, seducing jazz's modern temper and molding his very own profound form and style in the process. Letter From America is certain to be one of the year's best albums."

    - Peter Sanchez, All About Jazz, Los Angeles
    [Read the full article: click here]


  • "This collaboration between guitarist Hemmings and avant-garde saxophonist Tchicai is a curious amalgam, contrasting amorphous freejazz with the pounding beat of surf rock, or mixing whispered dialogues with intense tugs-of-war and happy little grooves. The underlying theme here is elusive, although geographic song titles suggest something relating to American diversity. What is clear is the rapport between the two leaders, who whirl about each other furiously at one moment and kick back into a soulful conversation in the next."

    - Forrest Dylan Bryant, Jazz Times
    [Read the full article: click here]


  • "Combined with Hemmings outstanding guitar and mastery of the studio, this is a wholly exhilarating and expansive collection of eight brilliant original compositions. Benefiting from the drama that the musicians bring to the scores, it shifts from the rhythmic to the cacophonous sublimely."

    - Mark E. Gallo, JazzReview.com
    [Read the full article: click here]


  • "Letter From America by The Paul Hemmings Trio with special guest John Tchicai is already on my list of year's best... Great compositions; 'Under A New Mexico Sky' is a classic... Great, great CD!"

    - Jacques Emond, CKCU-FM, Ottawa


  • "The Paul Hemmings Trio with saxophonist John Tchicai mixes some styles around...and still comes up with a cohesive set of sounds. The rock-informed Letter From America possesses some ragged edges and a visceral feel with some free jazz shadings, making it an excellent from-the-gut outing."

    - Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz (website)
    [Read the full article: click here]


  • "When guitarist Paul Hemmings says that he views jazz through a wide angle lens, he is not making an idle boast. He shows just how adventurous a composer he is on this recording, his third as leader... Hemmings springs a delightful surprise on the wide encompassing 'Venice Beach Boardwalk.' He brings in loops and samples which, in a sense, are a red herring. Tchicai comes in and plays a klezmer melody. If that weren't enough, the rhythm section goes into a reggae backbeat for a calypso melody. In comes some free flowing jazz from Hemmings before he settles into mainstream harmony with Tchicai. It's all done with finesse and is a fine accomplishment."

    - Jerry D'Souza, All About Jazz, Toronto
    [Read the full article: click here]


  • "Letter from America begins with 'Under a New Mexico Sky,' which features Mr. Tchicai with a big, soulful tenor tone. The song is a tasty, righteous ballad with a rather steaming Neil Young-like distorted guitar solo and suspenseful acoustic bass solo... There are a couple of pieces that deal more with spacious textures like 'The Pollock Galaxy' where John's mournful tenor and Paul's eerie echoed guitar swirl around each other slowly and evoke some sad reverie. This is certainly an unpredictable offering, sometimes playful and silly, and other times thoughtful and evocative of the wide open spaces of the New Mexico desert, which is what we see on the front and back cover of this disc."

    - Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery, NYC
    [Read the full article: click here]


  • "[With] Letter From America, Hemmings has produced balance in both working environment and choice of guest. [This album], as implied by the title, is an eclectic melange of styles, ostensibly representing the cultures that exist between his native California and his adopted New York home. Reggae jostles elbows with heavy rock, modern doo-wop walks around bleak ECM landscapes, calypsos emerge from ballads. Hemmings' guitar changes accordingly with each state line crossed, ably supported by the malleable work of bassist Gaku Takanashi and drummer Adam Issadore. [Their] CD release party at the Knitting Factory's Old Office in New York in February, 2008 that demonstrated how well Tchicai works with this band."

    - Andrey Henkin, All About Jazz, New York
    [Read the full article: click here]


    • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Live!)

  • "There have been many interpretations of Lennon/McCartney and Harrison's work and one has to be either a brave person to undertake such a journey or a fool! In this case, not only is the band 'brave' but its interpretations are superb and should be held in high esteem by fans of both Jazz and The Beatles. 10/10"

    - Tony Bates, Highlands 100.7 FM, Victoria, Australia


  • "Only live recordings capture the essence of music. Awesome production!"

    - Henry Brun, KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM, San Antonio, TX


  • "You can take or leave "tribute" records, but if you love jazz, and if you love the Beatles, you can't ignore this one. OK, Beatles purists may want to hear more faithful renditions, but if you open up your mind and truly enjoy good music, you have to dig it. This is one of the hottest jazz fusion trios out there, and their instrumental interpretations showcase their prodigious musical capabilities. I think the Fab Four themselves would agree this is an honorable tribute."

    - Mark E. Waterbury, Music Morsels


    • In & Out

  • "In & Out is a fine debut CD from guitarist Paul Hemmings... [his] chords, melodies, rhythms are all on the money, but what stands out are his guitar sound colors: slides, bends, harmonics, open strings... All but three of the tracks are original tunes, and Hemmings' compositions hold their own side-by-side with Hoagy Carmichael's Georgia--Hemmings' version is darkly sublime--and Albert Ayler's Mothers. Moody rubato Interludes act as ear and mind relaxers between the driving rhythms of the longer pieces. Eric Alexander contributes burning tenor sax on a few tracks, and bassist Miles Brown and percussionists Eric Wagner and Adam Issadore play well in support, but In & Out is Hemmings' personal statement: bold, beautiful, and full of promise."

    - Michael Lydon, author of Ray Charles: Man And Music


  • "As a guitarist, Hemmings favors an approach that...alternates between a lucid, unadulterated tone to a mildly delayed sound that hints at Bill Frisell. His solo thoughts are...concise single note lines or strummed chords, reflecting the influence of guitarists such as Wes Montgomery and perhaps even Grant Green."

    - Jay Collins, Cadence Magazine


  • "In & Out is a collection of fine jazz guitar music from the Paul Hemmings Trio. The album is centered around Hemmings’ skilled guitar style, which is appropriately entrenched in the roots of the blues, but also ventures a bit into the classical realm. His playing style never becomes overdone and showy, as he always remains in control of his instrument. All of the songs on this CD were composed by Hemmings, except superb renditions of Georgia by Hoagie Carmichael, Mothers by Albert Ayler, and Tico Tico by Zequinha Abreu. In addition to Hemmings, band members Miles Brown (bass) and Eric Wagner (drums) do an excellent job, as do special guests Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone) and Adam Issadore (percussion)."

    - Michael Casano, www.jazzreview.com


  • "Talented New York instrumental jazz guitarist of the smoky club variety, with subtle grooves backing his intricate picking nodding in the direction of a more free spirited George Benson. The sweet bluesy melodies of Georgia, the improvisational groove of Reverend Reed and the rollicking Calypso Couscous show diverse musical tastes. These are just wonderful songs, with stunning musical talent you can kick back and listen intently to."

    - Mark E. Waterbury, Music Morsels