Jim Cifelli: Press

Four Stars! Jim Cifelli's concept for the nonet is as radical as Miles Davis' Birth Of The Cool nine.... From the stops-out Go to the meditative Prayer Cifelli's band shows a rainbow of colors.
James Hale Down Beat, July 2003

After delivering three cds of intelligent, swinging, brilliantly arranged little big band music by his New York Nonet -- 1998's Bullet Trane, 1999's So You Say and 2002's Tunnel Vision -- trumpeter-composer Jim Cifelli takes a radical detour off the path and dives knee-deep into the funk on his fourth outing as a leader, the aptly-named Groove Station. Don't look for any Slide Hampton-Thad Jones-Oliver Nelson influences here. Instead, think James Brown, Tower of Power, the Brecker Brothers, Herbie Hancock (circa Headhunters) and Stevie Wonder on this one.
Bill Milkowski (liner notes)

The full spectrum of Jim Cifelli's creativity is on display in Tunnel Vision...his colorist skills as an arranger, his obvious talents as a composer and even his unselfishness when it comes to soloing.
Harvey Siders JazzTimes Magazine

Tunnel Vision culminates in sounds that are colorful, dynamic, and firmly rooted in the ensemble styles of Miles Davis/Gil Evans, Thad Jones, and Oliver Nelson. The album consistently combines the sheer ferocity of a big band with the improvisational freedom of a small group. This is what good music is all about.
James Rozzi Jazziz Magazine

The funk/groove sound: it seems like you shouldn't have to say too much about it. It's tight, in the pocket; it's good time music, not falling into the cerebral listening category; done well, it's a hell of a lot of fun...

It's done exceptionally well on Groove Station, where trumpeter Jim Cifelli tries on a groove suit for his latest release. And it proves itself a sleek fit for him.

The leader's main claim to fame is his swinging little big band, the New York Nonet, with three fine CDs released to date, the latest being 2002's Tunnel Vision. But on Groove Station Cifelli has put together another fine band, a sextet featuring keys/guitar/bass/drums with Cifelli's trumpet and Dan Cipriano's saxes out front. The focus is on the funk.

The focus is also on a tight group sound and a crisp dynamic. The solos stay short and tasty and always in the pocket. Cifelli's smooth shift of gears from a mainstream sound to groove/funk may come as a surprise to fans of his Nonet discs. The title tune opens the set with a cooking power trio groove, a whisper of organ before the horns blow in, the group sounding like it could be backing Wilson Pickett or Sam and Dave. Chaotica has a more modern feel, with Cifelli using the mute alongside guest Joel Frahm on soprano sax, with a sound that would fit right in with a Miles Davis/Marcus Miller arrangement. Long Time Comin' wails in on a bluesy, Albert King-ish guitar by Dave Phelps, followed by more of Cifelli's mute work; and Sertao slips some smooth Brazilian flavor into the mix.

Enough said about a sound you shouldn't have to say much about... Cifelli and company get into the groove with the best of them.

TRUMPETER JIM CIFELLIi's intelligent concept of the little big band has been highlighted on three critically acclaimed albums.While those nonet records were more in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis vein, Groove Station is a different animal altogether.Here the band plugs in and turns up as it cooks a deliciously greasy combination of jazz, funk and soul that should delight fans of Headhunters and the like as well as new school funkateers like Soulive. As always, Cifelli does an excellent job parsing out the solos and in turn gets a that smart multi-dimensional group sound. Cifelliís rhythm section is particularly hard hitting with a full compliment of drums, bass, guitar and keyboards. Out front, Cifelli and saxophonist Dan Cipriano don't swing as much as they swagger through one muscular head after another. Highlights include the title track, Chaotica and Old School.

GROOVE STATION:
The trumpeter's proven his knack for crafting thick pieces for a midsize ensemble -- he's a canny arranger. This funk move lets a lot more air into the room. It's old-school groove music with a chops-heavy crew, and it's meant to be seen live.
(MACNIE)