The LaVerne Christie Trio, another guitar trio, and led by a woman. How many serious female jazz guitarists are there? I can only come up with a few, Emily Remler, Mimi Fox, Mary Osborne and Jane Miller. Add to this list LaVerne Christie, a guitar student of Mimi Fox who in turn was a student of Emily Remler, a small world is that of the ladies in jazz, and especially that of female jazz guitarists. The LaVerne Christie trio follows in the footsteps of some of the great guitar trios, performing classic jazz standards in a wonderfully spontaneous manner, putting a fresh face to some beautiful melodies. The debut recording by LaVerne Christie is comprised of eleven songs, gems like “Stompin’ at the Savoy”, “Well You Needn’t” and “Stardust”. The classics “Dolphin Dance” and “East of the Sun” are presented in fine fashion, serious guitar playing, new arrangements and with tight accompaniment from bassist Mark Ruben and drummer Mike Candito.
The influence of guitarist Herb Ellis and to a lesser degree the guitar style of Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass are all present in LaVerne Christie’s guitar playing. Ms. Christie has a clean fluid guitar style made up of sharp crystalline single note runs, blending melody and rhythm flawlessly into sounds of delight. She produces a full sound, a tone that is classic arch top for the most part; some guitar parts remind me of a classically trained guitarist, with a nylon string sound as in the song “Be My Love.” Her phrasing is well articulated, a Latin element comes through, a little Brazilian flavour comes through as well, as in the tunes “Tin Tin Deo” and “The Sunset Hour”.
“East of the Sun, West of the Moon” by The LaVerne Christie Trio mixes up the styles but maintains the flow, the essence of this strong guitar led trio is all about harmony, melody and wonderful rhythms. The bass playing by Mark Ruben is very solid not only in holding the foundation but in enhancing the tone, adding the color to the sound, making for a very bright harmonic picture. Drummer Mike Candito pushes each song with his dynamically driven style, never laying back, he adds plenty of excitement to the trio’s tune selection and fills in with excellent cymbal work to provide a full sound. His drumming is a superb accompaniment to LaVerne Christie with well thought out fills and rhythms, there are no empty feelings. Ms. Christie has plenty of opportunity to branch out and so she does, there are many excellent moments of guitar spontaneity. Not just another guitar trio, this is a very good guitar trio, so if you like jazz, guitar or just want to hear some great music give this a listen.   

LaVerne Christie Trio:  Cool and Mellow!

Reviewed by Jerry Eadeh Sunday March 16, 2008, 7:30 pm

  Music in Las Vegas is much needed entertainment that is all too much of a white rhino.  Because of more and more belt-tightening, music in restaurants is an almost dead art form.  Even bars are having trouble.  When drinks and dinners alone bring in the same number of patrons without a band, why in the world would they want to pay for a band?  We can only hope this trend can change.  When restaurant and bar owners realize the importance of patronizing the arts, then the renaissance will begin, and jazz has an uncanny ability to cross over to all types of audiences.  When the fabulous LaVerne Christie Trio took the stage at the Bootlegger Bistro on Sunday, March 16, the patronage of music was a wonderful night for jazz in Las Vegas.

  The Bootlegger is a perfect setting for jazz, not only for the cocktail crowd, but also as a family friendly restaurant serving an old Italian style home made cuisine.  The staff is first rate and I got the feeling that my family, friends and I were treated as very special guests.

  The LaVerne Christie Trio presented a very cool school of guitar-featured jazz.  LaVerne has a very smooth, mellow sound on everything she plays, from straight-ahead swing to Latin, and even easy listening.  With this trio, Christie combines the bass playing of Mark Ruben and drumming of Mike Candito.  Ruben’s down to earth approach to the bass and Candito’s solid rhythm on the skins allow Christie to push the harmonic envelope on her guitar which is pleasing to the ears.

  Christie showcased several of the songs on her new release, East of the Sun/West of the Moon, which is a collection of very smooth, but very real, jazz.  Like the album, the playing was extremely comfortable and this live performance was a great opportunity to see and enjoy how she does her thing.  What I noticed during the evening of great playing was the trio’s use of their ears.  They listened to each other intently to move the music to incredible new heights, instead of just going through the motions of playing a gig.

  One of my favorite moments of the evening was when the trio played Tin Tin Deo.  LaVerne’s interpretation of this Chano Pozo/Gil Fuller masterpiece (which I believe was written for Dizzy)  is almost a tribute to Pozo’s style which combines several different approaches and rhythms into the same tune at the same time.  This particular tune is extremely complex, but in the hands of the LaVerne Christie Trio, it becomes a very pleasing and understandable work, showing Christie’s amazing ability to push the harmonic envelope, while making the changes comprehensible and very musical.  With Ruben’s anchor and Candito’s drive, Tin Tin Deo is very understandable.  With all three of these accomplished musicians, it is easy to see how promising the future of jazz is in Las Vegas.

  The evening was all too short.  LaVerne Christie is a jewel to have in Vegas and I am looking forward to hearing the LaVerne Christie Trio again.

Classically trained percussionist, in-demand audio consultant, Jerry Eadeh currently plays in a variety of Las Vegas venues.  In addition to his “day Job” as sound technician for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, his long list of credits includes extensive musical theater, symphony, and jazz performances; media production, theater tech and a documentary with KNPR.

Though Laverne Christie is probably not well known outside Las Vegas, where she is employed by Caesar’s Palace, this CD should go a long way toward rectifying that oversight.  For her recording debut, Ms Christie decided to go with the tried-and-true jazz trio – albeit one with her hollow-body Gibson electric guitar as lead voice instead of the usual piano.  Her companions here are jazz newcomer Mark Ruben on bass and veteran Mike Candito on drums.  The trio demonstrates that they have the chops to capture and hold attention; the material chosen goes a long way toward achieving this goal.  Beside the standard Tin Pan Alley songs that all musicians play at one time or another, there is a good number of tunes by jazz legends.  Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, and Benny Goodman are all represented.  Christie’s guitar offers a comfortable yet different voice to express this familiar music.

The sound Quiescent has achieved is full, rich and detailed.  Christie’s guitar is center front and offers a nice balance between plucked string and body.  Ruben’s bass is deep, firm and tight.  Candito’s drums snap and his cymbals shimmer. 

The cover of this independently released debut by Las Vegas based jazz guitarist Laverne Christie and her dynamic trio shows them checking under the hood of a vintage automobile somewhere out in the desert. The car may be stalled, but their approach to vintage music and jazz standards is smooth and enjoyable sailing all the way. A crisp and expressive string stylist in the pattern of her heroes Pat Martino and Wes Montgomery, Christie has quietly built an impressive career on the sidelines, playing everything from solo to combo to vocal accompanist and big band in Minneapolis/St. Paul, the San Francisco Bay Area, and now Vegas — where, among other things, she plays solo guitar for wedding services at Caesar’s Palace. Her study of classical and fingerstyle jazz guitar as well as Brazilian music is definitely apparent in the sharp arrangements she creates with the veteran rhythm section of bassist Mark Ruben and drummer Mike Candito. She saves her most explosive work for the hard-edged samba jam “The Sunset Hour” later in the tracking, but has fun alternating moods to that point, starting with the briskly swinging “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” strutting coolly on vintage compositions from Herbie Hancock (“Dolphin Dance”) and Charlie Parker (“My Little Suede Shoes”) and finally reflecting gently throughout “Stardust” and the mid-tempo closer “Be My Love.” Christie said that she put this album out herself because she didn’t think any traditional record company would approach her — but in 2007, this stood out as a gem as strong as any release by a major jazz label.

This is a group that plays mainstream jazz in a manner most suitable for the jazz purist rather than the undignified and careless style affected by some in the guise of jazz.

Often used as a break tune, “Pick Yourself Up” is a jazz standard in it’s own right.  Nice changes by Christie in her solo.  A happy message played in that same vein.

“East of the Sun” another chestnut given a breath of fresh air.  Swing is king here as this trio struts along in the land of Oo Bla Dee.  Ideas abound by all.

This album is a far cry from the con-fusion one hears these days and that’s a very good thing.

5 Stars

John Gilbert, Oct. 07, 2007

Don’t imagine that the title would give much away about this very pleasant little jazz CD… there’s a real “swing” groove here, & the approach to the playing is simple, yet (somehow) sophisticated!  The recording quality is superb, & you’ll listen to this (if you’re at all like me) over & over again… this album is definitely a “KEEPER”.  My favorite cut on the album was a classic, “Well, You Needn’t” … Laverne’s trio interpretation is decidedly unique & original!  For something with a heavy drum influence, you’ll love cut 8, “The Sunset Hour”.  The title track is a gem, too, brightly displaying the talents of each of the players (Laverne’s joined by Mike Candito on drums & bassist/cellist Mark Ruben), which are considerable, to be sure!  If you like guitar-based jazz that will keep you swingin’ (both mentally & spiritually), you’ll love this – it gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me!  I can tell you now, you’ll want this if you’re a collector… get more information at http://cdbaby.com/cd/lavernechristie

Rotcod ZZaj

Laverne Christie Trio – East of the Sun, West of the Moon – The Laverne Christie Trio’s “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” is a cool and composed jazz album that will send listeners into a den of tranquility from the first to the last track. Each song has its own brand of sensuality combined with an upbeat flow that listeners will be drawn to.

The first song has dapper percussion play along with speedy guitar work. The flow of this song makes it one that listeners can readily jive or even swing to.

The second song has a much slower pace to it, which emphasizes its romantic quotient. The percussion and guitar work are noticeably delayed, making the tone of the track seem as smooth as silk. Listeners might envision dancing to this song with an amorous partner at an elegant restaurant where a life-changing overture might be waiting in the wings.

The third song has a slightly quicker pace than the second and could be one heard on this season’s “Dancing with the Stars.” The elegance of this track is shown through the precise guitar work along with the stately percussion play. In addition, the buoyancy of the song strengthens its jazziness even further.

The fourth song has a sparkling rhythm accomplished by the recrudesce notes in the intro. The kinetic rush of this track is sure to make listeners radiate pure elation as the infectious beat gets more hurried as the song continues.

“East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” from the Laverne Christie Trio, is a record that has a jaunty pace and quixotic modulations. If listeners yearn for a collection of songs that set just the right mood, then they should trek to pick up “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.”

Reviewer: Sari N. Kent  (Reviewer’s Rating: 9)

KARI ON PRODUCTIONS LAVERNE CHRISTIE TRIO/East of the Sun West of the Moon: Transplanted from Minnesota to Vegas, this jazz guitarist is becoming a key player in the nascent jazz scene springing up under the radar in Vegas amid all the show lounge jive in the world of the Sammy Joeys. A bright swinger with a taste for Brazil, Christie leads her trio like a pro and delivers the goods in fine form. Clearly a tasty find for jazz guitar fans looking for something new. The set card here is long on standards but she brings something new to the fore you will enjoy.

 5 Stars

The LaVerne Christie Trio’s style of jazz goes back to the 1950’s, if not earlier, as each of them do not flaunt their musicianship or go heady with constant bebop struggles for dominance. East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon (Quiescent) is a light but always-moving recording that would fit in with the best of Chet Baker, Arthur Lyman, Pat Martino, and Herbie Mann, much of that having to do with the incorporation of musics from around the world, especially Brazilian and other sounds of tropicalia. Christie learned how to play with a bit of classical training and the finger-style that Wes Montgomery fans will love, and the combination works because she is able to apply technicality with the freedom of improvisation, and you can hear that in “My Little Suede Shoes”. Her love of Brazilian music is explored in “Tin Tin Deo”, while Herbie Hancock’s “Dolphin Dance” is taken to deeper depths than once known. The guitar work is relaxed and confident, and the moments when she adds a few extra things within her playing that are subtle but detected are remarkable. I love the groove she creates in “Well, You Needn’t”, one that Monk would be very proud of (he’d probably dance on stage for a minute or two to show his appreciation). I always have to show respect for the rhythm section if both musicians play well individually, and sound great together. In this case it’s Mike Candito on drums and Mark Ruben on bass, and hearing them is reminiscent of those old jazz and lounge records from the 50’s and early 60’s. A big part of getting that sound down is due to engineer Robert Root, I am not aware of his previous work or his own influences, but to me it sounds like he did this with an ear for the audiophile, either that or he is just that good. Hearing an album sound this great makes me wish more artists would take time to press their work on vinyl, for this is “vinyl worthy” (and for the non-vinyl junkies out there, that’s a very high compliment). A must-have addition to any jazz collection. (East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon is available through CDBaby.)