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Click on the CD cover for purchase information.
Jim Hoke
The first Jim Hoke solo CD!
Sweet Soul Steel
A sumptuous collection of 70's soul ballads (and a few faster ones).
Beautiful songs by the Stylistics, Delfonics, Spinners, etc. are arranged for steel guitar, flutes,
horns, chromatic harmonica and other exotic touches. Plus cello by Austin Hoke. Fans of Aqua Velvet,
as well as aficionados of the great era of classic soul love songs, will dig this.
Aquavelvet
Lounge-flavored exotica for pop connoisseurs. Jim and fellow multi-instrumentalist
Randy Leago have created dense, luxurious arrangements of sacred pop gems featuring
bizarre and beautiful instrumental / vocal combinations.
Hey Everybody Let's Fall In Love
Wonderfully deranged and re-arranged takes on 50's shlock, 60's Britpop and more.
Esquivel meets Brian Wilson. Ever hear "She Cried" with a wall of throbbing jews
harps and sitar, or "I Only Have Eyes For You" with pedal steel, bass flutes and
harmonica? Janis Ian guests on background vocals. Bob Brainen of WFMU named it
among his top ten CDs of the year.
A Splash of Aquavelvet
Their second CD, adding lead vocals on half the songs, is fully drenched in
island mystique. Ukulele, steel guitar, exotic percussion and endangered-species-
chatter invite you to chill on a sunny beach with gentle ocean breezes and a pina
colada. Wonderment includes "Chances Are", "One Less Bell To Answer", and a brilliant
smash-up of "Caroline No" and "Hello It's Me" - two of the sweetest pop songs ever.
This CD is extremely addictive.
Other Bands/Projects Featuring Jim
Swan Dive
This pop duo may have it's biggest audience overseas these days, but their
catalog of sparkling Bacharach-esque pop is well-loved everywhere. Jim is
featured on all their CDs on a plethora of instruments including pedal steel,
flutes, reeds and chromatic harmonica. He's usually with them on domestic
live dates.
Twelve Against Nature
Jim plays alto and tenor sax and harmonica in what may be the best Steely Dan
tribute band in the world. Besides playing in the horn section, Jim gets to play
classic solos from "Deacon Blues", "Aja", "Dr. Wu" and more. When in Nashville,
catch them at Third and Lindsley.
The Denis Solee - Jim Hoke Quartet
With Denis on alto sax and Jim on baritone, they evoke the sound of the
Paul Desmond - Gerry Mulligan group. The individual voices weave in counterpoint
to imply chords that are never literally played. This creates an uncluttered sonic
environment with unlimited potential for dynamics and improvisation. Watch for them
at F. Scott's Restaurant.
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OTTO
Possibly the best cello-woodwinds-vibraphone-pedal steel chamber group in town.
Their adventurously varied repertoire, from Faure and Milhaud to Zappa and The
Beach Boys is well suited to the tantalizing mixture of dissonance and harmony in
Hoke's arrangements.
Little Pieces
Otto's debut CD, "Little Pieces" covers vast musical territory, while constantly
reaching to exploit its unique instrumental palette. Earthy, expressive cello
and pedal steel nuances play off etherial clouds of vibraphone notes while clarinet,
flute or alto saxophone weaves unifying threads of melodic counterpoint. From
Faure's "Pavane" to "The Accident" by David Byrne, the
track selections never fail to surprise and delight.
The Jim Hoke Nonet
Jim led a nine-piece group of studio jazzers in the late ninties. Their main
venue was a coffee shop where every Tuesday they'd rehearse Jim's compositions
and arrangements which grew in number each week. Audiences were "invited inside"
the process, which often took on unpredictable twists.
Manatee Waltz
Nine mal-adjusted musicians; nine songs. This is the culmination of the Nonet's
brief existence. It features intense group improvization, bright solo spots and
crisp yet subtle ensemble performances of Jim's Mingus-esque originals. The title
track takes advantage of an extended musical palette of woodwinds in Jim's most
orchestral writing of this period.
Hoke and his Orchestra Bop!
Jim's first "small big band" venture featuring most of the musicians who would become
the Nonet, plus vocals by the amazing Kristi Rose. Song list draws from jump
blues and jazz masters of the 30's and 40's. Their hilarious version of "Eighteen"
has made Alice Cooper an honorary member of the "Rat Pack".
Hoke and His Orchestra Bop!
This captures the group at it's swingin' - est, during their period of weekly
residency at Wolfy's on Broadway, where Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch
Mitchell would often sit in. Kristi Rose belts and coos Sarah Vaughn and Peggy
Lee tunes and there's some 50's TV crime jazz and a lounge tango. Great fun from
a great band.
Photo: Lisa Haddad
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