Release of new Hasty CD happens at Yianni’s

Morganton — Rhythm Changes, the new release by Joseph Hasty, is a truly eclectic blend of original acoustic jazz that features everything from straight-ahead swing to the bossa nova.

The listener will also find a samba tune that would make any Brazilian proud as well as a jazz waltz that is literally “cooler than the other side of the pillow.”

Come to Yianni’s at 8 p.m. on Friday for the CD release party. Music starts at 8 p.m. but come early and order some of Yianni’s fine Mediterranean cuisine.

Featuring acoustic guitar, mandolin and upright bass, Rhythm Changes reflects a distinctive, yet classic and mature sound. It is an album with a variety of swing tunes, Latin rhythms and intelligent compositions.

The sound is a cross between a small combo swing band and that of an acoustic latin ensemble similar to that of Jobim or David Grisman’s “Dawg” music.

Sometimes you will be reminded of the “Hot Club” sound of Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli, other times it will be the Nat King Cole Trio — only without the piano. It all blends to form a smooth, very listenable sound that is great for the cocktail hour or for dancers that know all of the classic moves.

Hasty has had extensive performing experience in many styles of music ranging from Jazz to Bluegrass in a career that has carried him to stages in America, Europe and Australia.

While living in Europe for more than seven years, he first performed on street corners with various ensembles and even played with the likes of Charlie Hunter, the eight-string jazz guitar master.

Hasty studied jazz chord theory at the School of Contemporary Music in Zurich, Switzerland, for a short time but credits the Mickey Baker Jazz Guitar book for his distinctive jazzy rhythmic guitar style.

A gifted performer who also sings and plays double bass, Hasty displays talents as an arranger and composer where his swing guitar and Latin influences are realized.

A three-time recipient of the Regional Artists Grant award presented through the North Carolina Council for the Arts, Hasty has been performing with the help of some wonderful musicians to form the Jazz group Centerpiece which is composed by some great jazz musicians:

n Patrick Brown on sax —Brown is a graduate of the ASU jazz program in Boone. He is an accomplished recording artist in his own right and his latest album has been reviewed in Jazz Times.

n Ben McPherron on Upright Bass — McPherron has also taken classes in the jazz program at ASU. McPherron hails from Colorado but spent several years in Europe where his sense of Jazz was refined. 

n Mike Barlowe on Drums — Yet another graduate from the ASU Jazz program, Barlowe has been playing percussion and drums for more than 25 years and has experience in performing with the jazz band while in the military as well as with several outfits across the Southeast.

For more information, go to www.josephhasty.com.

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