Who are Jojo and Acoustic Shoes? They are a quartet of Jazz and Blues players hailing from Italy. Jojo, or Giorgio Menon, is the founder of Acoustic Shoes along with Giancarlo Schiavon, Alberto Lazzarin, and Claudio Caresia make up a band that has nearly three decades of music talent. Jojo supplies the guitars and vocals as well as composing and arranging the songs on this album; Schiavon supplies the harmonica and trumpet, whilst Lazzarin provides bass and keyboards and Caresia supplies the drums.

     I thoroughly enjoyed this album, as it provided a change of pace from the music I usually listen to. It brought back memories of hanging out in the park just outside the World Trade Center during my lunch break and listening to the jam sessions played there. The album sets a mellow tone with original songs by Jojo and one oldie-but-goodie called Sunny. I’m a sucker for a well-played guitar, and Jojo is definitely no slouch in that department.

     As I listened, I found myself imagining how each song on this CD could be used in the entertainment industry. I could see them being used in movie soundtracks as romantic interludes or to underscore light moments. I could picture main characters of TV shows strolling in a park with the music from this CD playing in the background; or hearing Jojo and Acoustic Shoes on some hip and modern jazz station.

     There were only two things I found disappointing with this album. Track 6, a song called Over the Border, contains lyrics written by Jojo. The lyrics are great, but vocals are just not Jojo’s forte. The biggest disappointment came when track 9, The Lighthouse, finished and I heard the silence that indicated the CD had reached its end.

     In my mind, there’s no doubt about it, Italy’s got a great band in Jojo & Acoustic Shoes! This CD’s a keeper!

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