STORE: JOYRIDE

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
  1. Banjo Blues (Cynthia Sayer)
  2. Move It On Over (Hank Williams)
  3. I Get Ideas (Adios Muchachos) (Sanders & Cochran)
  4. Ella Miriam's Blues (Andy Statman)
  5. You Talk Too Much (Cynthia Sayer)
  6. The Man On The Flying Trapeze (Leybourne & Lyle, alt. lyrics by C. Sayer)
  7. I Love Paris (Cole Porter)
  8. Getting To Know You (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
  9. El Irresistible (L. Logatti)
  10. Goody Goody (Malneck & Mercer)
  11. Honey (Simons, Gillespie & Whiting)
  12. Under The Bamboo Tree (Cole & Johnson)
  13. 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