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Billboard, Dan Ouellette
"Excellence in jazz is all about the freedom to musically explore with an open mind and heart
to ultimately find one's voice. On "La Espada de la Noche," his second Palmetto album and
fourth overall, reeds player Ted Nash achieves that plateau of performance."
Downbeat, Paul de Barros
"Cultural fusions can sound forced, but La Espada De La Noche sounds as natural as
neighbors chatting over the fence, though their "fences" may run between continents."
Village Voice, Francis Davis
"Every record collection should include at least one version of "Tico Tico," and have I got a
goodie for you--ripping, dramatic, and only slightly ironic..."
Philadelphia Inquirer, Staff Writer
"Jazz was born in a cradle of many cultures, and the music's future is likely to be full of
cultural excursions to new realms. Ted Nash pulls off such a fusion. He uses a primarily tango
vibe to create a kind of film-noir jazz that's engaging and probably even better live than on
disc."
L.A. Jazz Scene, Scott Yanow
"Each of the musicians is a virtuoso and the colorful arrangements utilize their instruments in
unexpected ways... La Espada De La Noche is an especially memorable and unique set, one of
the more inspired jazz recordings of 2005."
Hartford Courant, Owen McNally
"Nash is a composer and one-man horn section on tenor and alto saxophones, clarinet, bass
clarinet and alto flute. Mix all this with his talented bandmates, who play everything from
accordion to tuba, and you've got a rich palette of tonal colors."
All Music Guide, Troy Collins
"This is a truly heartfelt musical fusion, albeit with a playfulness that dares you not to take it
too seriously."
Raleigh New & Observer, Owen Cordle
"Jazz fans looking for a fresh ensemble sound, plus drama and humor, should check out "La
Espada de la Noche" (Palmetto) by Ted Nash and Odeon."
Austin Chronicle, Jay Trachtenberg
"Nash and his chamber ensemble, Odeon, infuse their new project, La Espada de la Noche
(Palmetto), with the romantic, dramatic, and passionate elements of tango, klezmer, and
Crescent City second line for an unusually delightful sound."
Jazzitude, Staff Writer
"The results are often swinging as can be (listen to Nash's solo on the less-frequently heard
Allegro section of "Concierto de Aranjuez"), but can also resonate deeply with the musical
influences of other genres and nationalities."
Jazzmatazz, Alan Lankin
"The album is a fascinating set of music that maintains a fine balance between seriousness
and humor, composition and improvisation, classical and cabaret, European and American
jazz."
Santa Fe New Mexican, Paul Weideman
"Sometimes this sounds like Gypsy polka music... but the musicianship of all concerned makes
this a fulfilling CD."
Record Online, 2005 Staff Writer
"Here's a guarantee: You won't turn this gorgeous album off in midsong. That's because each
tune is so compelling and so complete that you just have to listen."
Turbula, Dan McClenaghan
"With his band Odeon on "La Espada de la Noche," he moves out of the
mainstream...creating a music that flirts with humor and fun and joyous energy."
The Week, Staff Writer
"From his wonderfully unhinged take on Tico Tico to the seductive swagger of Tunisia, Nash
makes it clear he is a "master genre-bender."