Joe Syrian Motor City Jazz Octet releases ‘Secret message’ on Circle 9 Records

'Secret Message' is out now on Circle 9 Records.

Joe Syrian, veteran drummer and leader of the Motor City Jazz Octet, offers a refreshing, classics-oriented, eclectic set of American pop standards from the AOR greats of the 20th century like the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, and Stevie Wonder.

“Popular music resonates with people and works for many audiences,” Syrian says simply. “We just take that and mold it to our unique framework.” And he has the best men for the job in pianist Adam Birnbaum, guitarist Paul Bollenback, acoustic and electric bassist Lorin Cohen, trombonist Doug Beavers, alto and baritone saxophonist Carl Maraghi, and trumpeter and flugelhornist Nick Marchionne. (Tenor saxophonist Tim Reis, and tenor saxophonist and bass clarinetist Dave Reikenberg, each appear on a handful of tracks.) Along with Birnbaum and Beavers, Dave Hanson, John Fedchock, David Caffey, and David Berger demonstrate their impressive arrangement acumen.

Special guest artists include Joe Locke, Luisito Quintero, and vocalist Kenny Washington.