Like every outstanding instrumentalist and jazz composer, Jay Azzolina is not the type to coast on the reputation he's won for himself. And so on Local Dialect, his new project for Garagista Music, the celebrated guitarist does something he's never done on any previous release: Rather than concentrate on one particular genre or theme, he decided to open the doors of his imagination and let the music dictate where it would go. Recorded over the space of a few days at The Cutting Room and Quad Studios in Manhattan, Local Dialect benefits from Janko Radosavljevic's street-smart sonic conception. With his double-barreled background in jazz and hip-hop, the Yugoslavian-born producer invests Azzolina's performances with an urgent, immediate presence.

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This is Jay Azzolina's third album as a leader and he has chosen the organ trio format in a live setting to unveil his newest compositions. Jay's considerable intuition is spot-on. This warm and empathetic trio with Gary Versace on organ and Adam Nussbaum on drums delivers a live performance that is colorful and truly inspired.

Jay's maturity as a guitarist and composer shines throughout this recording, with his knowledge of the jazz and blues tradition blending seamlessly with his informed modern compositional style. Jay orchestrates this music in a unique way, utilizing a contrapuntal style that differentiates this group from more traditional organ trios without losing the grit and groove that are so essential to this form of jazz.

Add some cool new sounds to your holiday mix with this collection of inspired interpretations of the classics. From an alt rock “Good King Wenceslas” to a bossa-flavored “O Holy Night” to a swingin’ “Jingle Bells” – not to mention the rockabilly “O Little Town of Bethlehem” -- you’ll be surprised and delighted by the fresh new directions these songs take. We’ve also included a few new tunes destined for “holiday mainstay” status.

21 songs + 3 free downloads + a Free Booklet

This was as much fun to make as it is to hear. Over the course of five days in mid-July, dozens of musicians wandered in and out of Second Act Studio in Irvington, NY to record the tracks.

Some artists came with a song they wanted to perform. Others helped make up arrangements on the spot – grabbing the musicians who were there at the time. Some overdubs were added after the fact, but the majority of what you hear came from those original sessions. In every case, you can hear the joy in the tracks.