Vince Guaraldi

The Jōst Project
Walk This Way
Devoted to interpreting the rock-related “standards” in a contemporary jazz format, The Jōst Project creates an exciting new connection between the many listeners for whom the music of Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beach Boys and others are as familiar as the Great American Songbook to prior generations of music lovers. The group’s enthusiastic audiences have expressed appreciation and pleasure in hearing this diverse repertoire of songs performed in the modern jazz idiom by this acoustic, almost chamber-like ensemble.
The Jōst Project is a jazz collective initially formed in 1990 by vibraphonist Tony Miceli and acoustic bassist Kevin MacConnell, with the purpose of performing the rock music of the 1950s-1970s in a jazz format. The seeds of this idea were planted in Miceli’s 2005 recording “Hippie Jazz” and when he heard vocalist/arranger Paul Jost with the Antfarm Quartet, he felt a strong musical connection that led him to convene the Modern Rock Ensemble. Miceli’s vibraphone stirs echoes of the famed Modern Jazz Quartet with Milt Jackson, and in this latest combination, Jost invokes blues, mainstream, and scat stylings in his unique introspective way bringing out the emotions contained in the songs. The solid, innovative drumming of young Charles Patierno, and the strong, lyrical playing of MacConnell complete this inventive ensemble. It’s immediately evident that this skilled group of artists each bring their distinctive experience and approach to this blended collective.
The ever-expanding repertoire of The Jōst Project include rock/pop classics as, “Kashmir” (Led Zepellin); “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Simon and Garfunkel); “Walk This Way” (Aerosmith); “Can’t Find My Way Home” (Blind Faith); “Maybe I’m Amazed” (Paul McCartney); “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (Iron Butterfly), “Good Vibrations” (Beach Boys), as well as, “What a Day For a Day Dream” (John Sebastian- Loving Spoonful); “Sunshine Superman” (Donovan); “And I Love Her” and “Come Together” (The Beatles); “Tenessee Waltz” (Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King).  For good measure, jazz compositions like “Don’t Forget the Poet” (Encrico Pierannuzi); “Caravan” (Dizzy Gillespie); “Waltz New” (Jim Hall); and “Passion Dance” (McCoy Tyner) are also included in the group’s playlists.
Give a listen to “Walk This Way”, and you’ll get a taste of the unique sound of The Jōst Project and their exceptional artistry, originality and imagination. The group, while based in the Philadelphia area, is available for bookings internationally.

Contact: Sharla Feldscher,  HYPERLINK "mailto:Sharla@sf-pr.com" Sharla@sf-pr.com, 215-285-4868
