Recordings

Les DeMerle and Bonnie Eisele have recorded some of the most exciting music in jazz.

Hot Night In Venice

"Hot Night In Venice" captures the fire, excitement and bristling energy Les has been bringing to world stages for over 50 years. From his ground-breaking Transfusion band of the late '60s, taking over Buddy Rich's seat with the Harry James Orchestra for 12 years, or his tours with the Manhattan Transfer and Wayne Newton, Les DeMerle has always been about elevating the band, bringing a visceral, unbridled dynamism to the stage. "Eisele and DeMerle are a hot combination. Her powerful voice and natural feel for rhythm come across in an explosive stage performance. His energy is absolutely contagious." - Florida Times-Union

Gypsy Rendezvous - Vol One

Legendary drummer Les DeMerle injects a fiery Hot Club spirit into his latest Origin Recording. Along with the Django-inspired group "Gypsy Pacific" and vocalist Bonnie Eisele, DeMerle weaves a joyous musical tapestry as the group takes the gypsy-jazz energy of Reinhardt and Grappelli up a notch, reworking bebop staples such as Pent Up House and Yardbird Suite, or American Songbook classics such as Skylark and Old Man River. Recorded in Maui during a Hawaiian tour, Gypsy Rendezvous is a jubilant and relaxed jaunt through new musical territories for DeMerle's dynamic band.

Hittin’ The Blue Notes - Vol One

Origin is quite proud to introduce the latest CD from the appropriately named Dynamic Les DeMerle Band. Long at the forefront of modern jazz drumming, DeMerle features on "Hittin'..." arrangements of some of the great hits of the Blue Note record label and tunes that evoke the spirit of those recordings. All About Jazz said this about his last CD for Summit Records - "DeMerle plays with such power and grace as to make his quintet sound like a band three times that size...this disc is an embarrassment of riches..." "Hittin' the Blue Notes" is all of that and more!

Cookin' at the Corner - Vol Two

Cookin' At The Corner is the real deal, capturing a live jazz set in a real jazz club packed with loyal jazz fans. The music is hot and sweet, swinging and soulful. The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band is tight and grooves hard with creativity and passion, giving each tune in their classic repertoire the perfect color and shade to create the ultimate jazz rainbow. Featured beside Les DeMerle's fiery drumming are his and Bonnie Eisele's equally dynamic vocals, as they perform classics such as "In A Mellow Tone," "Caravan," "Work Song" and more.

You’re The Bop !

Skip right to the last track, "Love for Sale". This is a drum-voice duet between DeMerle and Eisele. It is stunning. Eisele's time is as perfect her empathy with the drummer DeMerle. This reading is as effective as the same vehicle used by Mary Pearson on her Arkadia release You and I, where she duets with the drums. Voice and drums'drums and voice, this is what this disc is ultimately about. From start to finish, De Merle plays with such power and grace as to make his quintet sound like a band three times that size. Cole porter has rarely been played so boldly and over-the-top.

Comin' Home Baby

Captured live in the jazz room of the Celebrity Eclipse Cruise Ship while sailing the Baltics, "Comin' Home Baby" is the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band's ninth recording on Origin, and its tightest - grooving hard, the music hot and sweet, swinging and soulful. Featured beside Les DeMerle's fiery drumming are his and Bonnie Eisele's equally dynamic vocals, as they perform classics such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby," "Learnin' The Blues," "Day In - Day Out," "High Fly," and more. "After hearing this quartet live for 12 nights with Les' tight group and the wonderful vocals of Bonnie Eisele, I can honestly say that I am truly a fan..." - George Wein, Newport Jazz Festival.

Feelin’ Good

Captured live in the jazz room of the Celebrity Silhouette Cruise Ship, "Feelin' Good" is the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band at its tightest, grooving hard, the music hot and sweet, swinging and soulful. Featured beside Les DeMerle's fiery drumming are his and Bonnie Eisele's equally dynamic vocals, as they perform classics such as "When I Fall in Love," "Speak Low," "Sing, Sing, Sing" and more. "After hearing this quartet live for 12 nights with Les' tight group and the wonderful vocals of Bonnie Eisele, I can honestly say that I am truly a fan..." - George Wein, Newport Jazz Festival.

Hittin’ The Blue Notes - Vol Two

The appropriately named Dynamic Les DeMerle Band is back for volume two with arrangements on some of the great hits of the Blue Note record label and tunes that evoke the spirit of those recordings. As an added bonus, volume two features two tracks with the legendary blues vocalist Jimmy Witherspoon. About volume one, Jazz Review wrote “His band is dynamic, in large part because of the irresistible beat that DeMerle’s unabashed love of the Blue Note classics, expressed in tribute with reverence, without solemnity, but with a propulsive style that’s consistent with the inspiring nature of the original recordings.”

Cookin' at the Corner - Vol One

Les DeMerle's 4th recording for Origin is another swinging affair that further cements his reputation as one of the most dynamic drummers in jazz. Recorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience, the band sizzles on 15 tunes including classics such as "Cute," "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid," and the soul hit "Compared to What." With vocalist Bonnie Eisele, they caress standards "The Shadow of Your Smile," "The More I See You," and "Stardust," and they define future standards including the title cut "Cookin' at the Corner" by pianist Mike Levine.

The Jazz Spirit of Christma

This new collection of exciting, fresh arrangements on 16 holiday classics includes lush versions of The Christmas Song, and Snowfall featuring Bonnie Eisele plus a hot, wailing clarinet and drum duet on Sleigh Ride featuring Ken Peplowski and Les DeMerle. Among the many colors of this CD are the beautiful and warm Brazilian feels of I'll Be Home For Christmas and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, cookin' bluesy renditions of Winter Wonderland and Merry Christmas Baby, and a down and dirty New Orleans-style Santa Is Near.

Gypsy Rendezvous - Vol Two

Legendary drummer Les DeMerle returns with a fiery Hot Club spirit on volume two of his Gypsy Rendezvous series. Along with the Maui-based and Django-inspired group "Gypsy Pacific" and the sublime vocals of Bonnie Eisele, DeMerle leads a joyous musical romp as the group takes the energy of Reinhardt and Grappelli up a notch on reworked jazz staples such as Limehouse Blues and Too Close for Comfort, or American Songbook classics including Squeeze Me and Time After Time. Recorded in Maui during a Hawaiian tour, Gypsy Rendezvous, Volume Two is another jaunt through swinging musical territories with DeMerle's appropriately named band.

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