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Dave Hartl: "Tales from the Plague"

By Chris M. Slawecki
April 4, 2022
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Dave Hartl

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Hartl
"Tales of the Plague"
Self-Produced
2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Hartl stretches his prowess on keyboards and many other instruments across several different ensembles in and around Philadelphia, PA: A quartet supporting a vocalist, a Linda Ronstadt tribute/review, a jazz-funk group (Musical Collusion, which also includes saxophonist

Carl Cox

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Cox), and a large esoteric classical ensemble featuring harps, vibraphone and theremin (The Divine Hand Ensemble). He also occasionally sits in with The Hot Club of Philadelphia, a gypsy jazz ensemble playing music that honors

Django Reinhardt

guitar
1910 - 1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Django Reinhardt, plus several other local jazz, ballet, and orchestral ensembles.

The kaleidoscopic, pinballing"Tales of the Plague," primarily featuring Hartl on various keyboards, Chapman stick and guitar, with saxophonist Cox and drummer

Josh Orlando

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Orlando (plus Dave's son Miles Hartl on occasional guitar), touches every one of these bases. "The Zen Cabbie" drives it open hard and hot: Cox's soprano cuts the melody right through Hartl's chattering accompaniment then blasts into circular orbit like a spaceship, while drummer Orlando stretches and snaps back its hard rocking beat. "Fungit" shifts the mood from 1990s

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis to 1960s

James Brown

vocals
1933 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">James Brown on a fatback Hammond B-3 organ sound, the Godfather's famous "Cold Sweat" rhythmic push-and-pull, and gutbucket tenor sax that blows soulful and hot. Hartl's solo stirs in New Orleans funk and R&B, and turns its taste into a sweet jazz cocktail.

Hartl steers other tunes toward more reflective, peaceful sounds. His Chapman stick and D'Angelico guitar duet with Orlando's hand percussion to pour out Antonio Carlos Jobim's charming "Favela" like cool, clear flowing water; they leave Orlando behind to paint a lovely solo portrait of the Italian guitar ballad "Estat��." He also journeys solo on synthesizer and accordion through

Astor Piazzolla

bandoneon
1921 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Astor Piazzolla's "Soledad" and on synthesizer and fretless bass through the dreamy "Breath of Helios."

"You're My Humpty," a medley of

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea's "You're My Everything" and "Humpty Dumpty," is another powerful vehicle driven by Hartl's keyboard dexterity and a great performance worthy of its material.

"The past 14 months had proved to be the most creative and prolific year I've ever had in my musical life," Hartl notes on "Tales of the Plague." "Not having to entertain people in a live crowd, and being given total freedom and unlimited time, I found myself working harder in the studio than I ever could have before." Dr. Hartl emerged from his studio lab with an absolute monster.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Zen Cabby; Fungit; Favela; Daddy Wallets; Breath of Helios; Forsooth; Soledad; Heart Like a Wheel; Estat��; Little Orange Fingers; Ready Step RBG; Saikou; You're My Humpty; I Don't Know What I Said, I Don't Remember.

Personnel

Dave Hartl

keyboards

Josh Orlando

drums

Carl Cox

saxophone

Miles Hartl

guitar

Grant MacAvoy

drums

Gesenia Gerena

vocals

Paula Johns

vocals

Album information

Title: Tales from the Plague | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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