JOYRIDE
CD: $14.99
/ Digital Album: $9.99
Cynthia’s newest album, JOYRIDE, features the jazz/roots accordion of Charlie Giordano (a.k.a. the keyboard player with Springsteen's E Street Band) and her All-Star Joyride Band performing Hot Jazz, Great American Songbook, Tango, Classic Country, originals and more. JOYRIDE showcases Cynthia’s singular & striking arrangements, heartfelt vocals, and her soulful, edgy 4-string banjo sound. Hold onto your seat for a swinging, fun-filled JOYRIDE!
SPECIAL THANKS TO KICKSTARTER SUPPORTERS!
TRACK LIST
- Banjo Blues (Cynthia Sayer)
- Move It On Over (Hank Williams)
- I Get Ideas (Adios Muchachos) (Sanders & Cochran)
- Ella Miriam's Blues (Andy Statman)
- You Talk Too Much (Cynthia Sayer)
- The Man On The Flying Trapeze (Leybourne & Lyle, alt. lyrics by C. Sayer)
- I Love Paris (Cole Porter)
- Getting To Know You (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
- El Irresistible (L. Logatti)
- Goody Goody (Malneck & Mercer)
- Honey (Simons, Gillespie & Whiting)
- Under The Bamboo Tree (Cole & Johnson)
- When You Wish Upon A Star (Harline & Washington)
To hear track samples,
click here.
MUSICIANS
- Cynthia Sayer - banjo, vocals, arrangements
- Charlie Giordano - accordion
- Mauro Battisti - string bass
- Larry Eagle - percussion
- Jon Herington - electric guitar
- Sara Caswell - violin
- Randy Sandke - trumpet
- Scott Robinson - tenor sax & taragato
- Adrian Cunningham - clarinet
- Marcus Rojas - tuba
- Mike Weatherly - string bass & back-up vocals
REVIEWS
- "Sayer’s singing is as nuanced as her banjo playing, with a bright, lively vigor that makes Joyride sparkle with energy."
—DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE
- "She's pushing the four-string banjo into new, uncharted territory."
—FRETBOARD JOURNAL
- "Breaking the mold is New Jersey-born Cynthia Sayer who plays hot, swinging jazz on the plectrum banjo and performed with Woody Allen's band."
—PBS ARTS
- "If you like banjo, buy it! If you don't like banjo, buy it! Cynthia is brilliant throughout."
—JUST JAZZ MAGAZINE (U.K.)
- "A quirky delightful record! It shows that the tradition of experimentation in the [jazz] genre is not restricted to the more modernistic outreaches. Great fun throughout."
—JAZZ JOURNAL, Jerry Brown (U.K.)
- "A revelation. A world class banjoist, [and] Ms. Sayer really has a beautiful voice.”
—IAJRC JOURNAL (International Assoc of Jazz Record Collectors)
- “World-class level Sayer and her 4-stringed buddy are no novelty. She's the real deal and this recording reinforces that standing.”
—ALL ABOUT JAZZ, Nick Mondello
- "She whips up a fresh take on an old-time sound."
—"PIANO JAZZ" on NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
- "She laughs, she loves, she dreams, she speeds, she cruises and occasionally, she bares her teeth…. smashing stereotypes along the way."
—THE RESONATOR
- "This woman demonstrates a rich and elegant palette and makes us want to listen more to this 4-string instrument.”
—JAZZ HOT (France)
- "Jazz just doesn't sound the way it used to. Cynthia is out to reclaim the banjo's place in the genre."
—"SOUNDCHECK" on NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
- "Lou Reed once said, 'Baby take on a walk on the wild side' which is exactly what she does. A big winner!”
—@CRITICAL JAZZ
- "I'm really stuck on those banjo lines 'cause they're way atypical and ... expand the instrument with a good deal more of its capabilities than are normally exhibited."
— FOLK & ACOUSTIC MUSIC EXCHANGE
- "Cynthia Sayer is going to wipe that frown off your face. She strums, picks and glides and sings.... her hot chops on display. What more do you want?"
—JAZZ WEEKLY
- "Thanks to the work of Sayer, a completely new sound world appears with familiar tunes…. It was worth the wait."
— AUDIOFILE SZALON (Hungary)
- "Sayer's 'Joyride' is packed with many happy surprises."
—THE HARTFORD COURANT, Owen McNally
- "A winner throughout."
— MIDWEST RECORD
- "This is one rollicking ride from Cynthia & her crew. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
—IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION MAGAZINE
- "Her spots on banjo are inventive, and her singing is infectious. Joyride is a delight."
—LOS ANGELES JAZZ SCENE, Scott Yanow
- "Cynthia Sayer is [a] jazz banjo ambassador who time and again has taken her instrument far beyond novelty status.... The tracks offer uncommon interpretations of familiar fare. Cynthia Sayer and company give us a 50-minute Joy Ride."
— JAZZ POLICE, Andrea Canter
- "An appealing album possessing an eclecticism that sets it apart."
— JERSEY JAZZ JOURNAL
- "A delicious mix of repertoire, musical styles, and instrumentation. A beautiful project."
— ALL FRETS MAGAZINE
KICKSTARTER SUPPORTERS
- JOYRIDE SPONSORS
Elaine Adler
Howard & Ruth Braren
Robert Sayer
- JOYRIDE DONOR PLUS
Susan Taylor & Allen Brown
- JOYRIDE DONORS
Amy Edwards
Julia Fishelson
Fritz Pritchett
Sheila Wolfe
And deepest thanks to you other supporters as well! Your contributions towards marketing JOYRIDE were invaluable!! —Cynthia