Easier than it looks is Freddy V's debut album after his experience working with The Average White Band, and performances with Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, Chaka Khan, The Four Tops, Blood Sweat and Tears, and The Temptations. Fans of the soothing, mellow sounds of smooth jazz will love the music of Freddy V. The tonal beauty of Freddy's saxophone shines all throughout the album.

~Wilbert Sostre, Jazz Times

 

Freddy V sounds like he puts 110% of himself into every track, always going for a bit extra in each one. He also lets the musicians on the recording shine as well, particularly his vocalists Klyde Jones and Alan Gorrie. If music is ever measured in gold karats, Freddy V's album would have a rating of 24K.

~Susan Frances, Yahoo! Full Review >>Click Here<<

 

"A couple of soul vocals, a lot of tasty sax licks and easy going rhythmic raunch, which means it will be slotted with smooth jazz even though it's a cut above. . . B"

~Tom Hull, Jazz Prospecting

 

Cut the guy some slack.  Just because he’s been the sax man with AWB 2.0 for the last ten years doesn’t mean he wasn’t good enough for the original crew, it just means he wasn’t old enough, as the rest of his stellar resume and cast of characters will attest.  Never too hip for the room and always in party mode, Freddy knows his sax inside and out and knows how to find pals that enjoy playing along.  A Friday afternoon yuppie special, this is smooth jazz that’s miles away from biz-jazz, with funk and good vibes for all.  Check it out.

~Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap

 

Freddy V tours and records with the Average White Band, and has also played with many rock and soul acts over the last few decades, so one would expect his debut solo album to feature a funky sound. But unlike the Average White Band, there seems to be little gritty funk and more polished contemporary jazz here. It's essentially a funky smooth jazz disc.

~Kyle O' Brien, Jazzscene

 

Fred Vigdor is Freddy V, a contemporary jazz saxophonist, writer and producer. He puts together a popping set of mostly new upbeat tunes that will have your head bobbin' at a minimum.  He employs the talents of proven performers Ike Stubblefield (organ), Mo Pleasure (b, keyboards), Ricky Peterson (organ) and guitarists Derek Scott & Terry Lewis to keep it funky. Klyde Jones injects soulful vocals into "Let's Go Round Again" the best of three vocal tracks. Freddie is in the middle of it all working his sax to keep it fresh notably on "Any Other Way" and the super funky "Sandbag". This is one to add to the smooth rotation.

~D. Oscar Groomes, O's Place Jazz Magazine

 

The thing that’s so very cool is that (without knowing it, probably) I’ve been listening to Freddy’s righteous sax for years & years… he plays with Average White Band… & this is one MONSTAH’ reedist, to be sure.  Just scope out one of my favorite tracks (of the even dozen on the CD), “Rush“… far more than just “average hump/bump”, this one ROCKS out!  If you want mighty mellow sax with great vocal backups, you’ll love “Let’s Go Round Again” – total SOUL!  It’s th’ punchy beat on “Sandbag (for Hiram)” that gets my vote for absolute FAVORITE track, though… if ya’ can’t shake & bake to this tune, you’ve probably already GOT some sandbags over your casket.  If high-energy (as in rocket-fueled) jazz is yo’ THANG – you’ll agree with me that this is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED… I give Freddy & crews an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.98, too.

~Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation