Welcome to John DiGiovanni's Site
Hello and thanks for visiting my website!
I'm happy to announce that Kombu Combo is off and running and playing great shows in the area. Download 4 songs from the MP3 page and check the Gigs page for dates. More information and videos on the Kombu Combo MySpace page.
I hope you have fun browsing the site and if you would like to be notified of upcoming events, email me at john@johndigiovanni.com.
Thanks for stopping by and please come again!
jD
MORE NEWS:
I joined Garry Cogdell and the Complainers on stage at the beautiful Grand Opera House opening for George Thorogood and the Destroyers on March 23rd.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Here's some clips from the Clifford Brown Jazzfest in June, and Terell Stafford, one of the best trumpet players anywhere did the honors of playing musical director and trumpet! Rounding out the band was Greg Riley/Sax, Madison Rast/Bass, Neil Podgursky, piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dUjkdey4Yk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9amdoa-P7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPmpE3oonhU
_______________________________________________________________________________
Dream Again, The CD that I did with Lili Anel last year, has been released in Germany with some added material, and it's been getting rave reviews all over Europe! Find out more at:
http://www.lilianel.org/
_______________________________________________________________________________
Check out this review of Garry Cogdell's latest, recorded, I am proud to say, at my very own Marsh Road studios-
From BluesArt Magazine in Vienna:
Artist: Garry Cogdell, with The Complainers
Title: Affection & Despair
Label: Self Produced
For more information go to: deltablues88@msn.com
Here, Garry with his Complainers who are; John DiGiovanni ; drums and Gerry Kirk; bass, have together delivered an exquisite four track CD that just oozes with cool, cool dexterous acoustic, steel and electric blues.
Firstly we have a fuzzy steely electrifying shuffle with “The Key to the Highway,” followed by three original numbers; a lazy, hazy laid back “Quiet Day,” full of acoustic and steel picking that just simply epitomises the sun going down. “Womans Touch,” a groovin' upbeat shuffle that has you looking forward to groovin' with your loved one, and lastly, “Affection & Despair,” a slow, slow touchingly mournful electric guitar blues that helps you explore your more melancholy emotions.
Splendid, absolutely splendid!
----- Brian Harman
_______________________________________________________________________________
JazzTimes, one of the world's top jazz magazines, has reviewed Lili Anel's latest in it's June issue! Very positive review. Check out these excerpts:
"Cuban- influenced singer- guitarist Lili Anel is part soul sister, part jazz chanteause and pure dynamite."
"Her songwriting is consistently excellent, ofttimes Joni Mitchell sharp, and her wide-ranging but unswervingly thoughtful performances do her songs full justice."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Here's the review from the Long Island Press
A tremendous talent who honed her chops alongside Greenwich Village folk stalwarts Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin, Lili Anel returns with her third and best recording after a five-year hiatus. Possessing a singular, smoky-sounding vocal style that falls somewhere between Joan Armatrading (Anel covers Armatrading's "Down to Zero" here) and Nina Simone (especially on "Life or Death"), Anel's recent move to Philly yielded a collaboration with fretless-bass player Cooke Harvey, who helped co-helm an extraordinary album that might be just a bit bass-heavy—Anel's voice and phrasing are too extraordinary to be given anything less than centerstage. Her highly personalized lyricism shows added depth from past recordings, whether it's in the samba-like "Over You" or the snappy-edged light funk of "Temporary Amnesia." Elsewhere, Anel incorporates songs about her faith (the hypnotic "Life or Death" and gorgeous hit-written-all-over-it "If God Had a Wallet") that never come off preachy, with the latter existing on the same plane as Joan Osborne's "One of Us." Dream is a fabulous, rock-solid gift of exquisitely penned and sung songs. This deserves to be a commercial hit. — Skitch Mulligan
(Reproduced from the orginal article printed 4/5/07)
Quote From Lili Anel
I truly enjoyed your playing. You have a very distinct sound. I hear your influences, or at least some of them, but you have your own sound and I like that. I like what you have brought/are bringing to my music. I'm very excited and am praying that the rest of the world will “receive” it so we can keep bringing it to them by way of gigs.
Quote from Jay Bethel, BlueBone guitarist
I had a great time Saturday- you came out ready to play- professional, good equipment, good licks. It was nice.
Quote From Van Burris, BlueBone bassist
Thanks again for playing with us at Juno's. I really appreciated your preparation and I had fun playing together. Ass-kickin' "Freeway Jam", by the way. Hope we can do more gigs soon.
New Quote from Tony Miceli, Philadelphia Vibist
'John, your studio sounds top notch. that quality of that cd was really impressive!!! I never heard you play drums, you sound great. All great players on that! I've listened to 'Freedom Jazz Dance several times!!!'