Upbeat - AFofM local 145 (Vancouver)

Vince Mai "MBand" is Vince's latest CD. This superb CD produced by Vince offers up 10 very well conceived straight eighth originals with outstanding solos on trumpet and flugelhorn by Vince. Vince has some amazing "jazz chops" in the high, medium, and low range with not one pretentious note in any of his solos. Everything on this CD is well thought out and performed flawlessly not only by Vince but by a host of our best jazz performers.You will hear guitarists Russ Klyne and Daryl Jahnke, percussionists Pepe Danza and Raphael Geronimo, keyboard soloist Brad Turner, drummer Randall Stoll, and bassist Marc Rogers. Vince himself added any additional bass guitar, percussion, keyboards and programming to the tracks giving the whole production a contemporary electronic feel throughout. I found track 8, a composition called "Beside Myself" very interesting and original. Vince accompanies himself on a very refreshing and creative keyboard programmed track. His plunger style solo trumpet playing on this is superb as it sounds as if he is literally talking to you. I don't know if the plunger effect was done either electronicallay or manually. Either way, it is very successful. In production, this CD travelled a bit with live drum tracks recorded at Blue Wave Studios in Vancouver and the live bass tracks were recorded at Skyline Studios in Toronto. All other recording and mixing was done at Mai-Music Studios in North Vancouver.

- Bobby Hales- AFofM local 145 president - Oct. 2006

"Subte"

SmoothJazz.com

Smooth Canadian trumpeter, Vince Mai is celebrating a brand new CD, SUBTE. The project was inspired by a kaleidoscope of musical influences including the ruins in Mexico, the subways of Buenos Aires, the infectious rhythms and voices of Latin America, and the trance of the European club scenes. SUBTE makes for an extremely interesting and sophisticated listening experience that moves the body and the mind. Vince's tone is stellar; clean, clear, and brilliantly controlled. The artist wrote, produced and mixed the majority of this album. Smooth jazz fans will embrace smooth and cool tracks like "U & I" and "Pumpin" as well as Latin-tinged "El Castillo" and "Nova Bossa". For some envelope-pushing, check out the jazzy "Tetra", the percussive "Naked Projektion" and the title track which features recorded ambience of Buenos Aires. Vince Mai is well entrenched in the west coast studio/jazz scene and has been for many years with numerous commercial, film and album credits. His trumpet solos have been heard on many TV series including The Chris Isaak Show, McGyver, Lonesome Dove, Scene of the Crime, and numerous feature films. We here at Smoothjazz.com are completely enthralled by this artist and his adventurous spirit. Safe to say that Vince Mai's SUBTE is carrying on the torch for what was dubbed 'West Coast Jazz' back in the 60's.

~Sandy Shore, president SmoothJazz.com - Nov 4,2003

Cafe Jazz Radio -Canada's Smooth Jazz Connection

Best Canadian Smoth Jazz Releases 2002 includes Vince Mai's - "SUBTE"
"Pumpin'...one of my personal favorites..."

- Ted Hasiuk of Cafe Jazz Radio/Jazz Lynx - 2003

Ukraine review of SUBTE

"If you want to see the music, you must close the eyes. The most splendid images blind when (you) listen (to the) music (of) Vince Mai! The music (of) Vince Mai - this a space without borders, this splendid world of the music spirit, this desire to touch the fluctuations of the sound waves of the trumpet..."

- Sergei Shidlouskij, radio station Kraj 68,2 Fm (Ukraine) - Sept 9, 2003

Music for the Soul - review ........................................... by Darryl Klause

source: news for the soul 

SUBTE- new release by Vince Mai

After listening to the latest project by Vince Mai several times I realized it has three distinct sets. I'm not sure if this was intentional and it may not be obvious at first but I find if one is aware it adds an extra dimension to the experience. When Vince told me about this new work last year he said it was definitely going to be a departure from standard sounds, incorporating all original new tunes. Although, it's identifiably still Mai, this album pushes the boundaries of smooth at the same time experimenting with rhythms and instrumental combinations.

1- TETRA- upbeat Latin jazz fusion, using mute and unmuted trumpet solos that smacks of Phil Driscol style screaming highs. I 'm especially delighted by the creative percussion by Pepe Danza, one of Vancouver's more well known artists.

2- U&I-mellow dance groove, Vince uses an ultra simple 2 note repetitive theme that remains interwoven through the piece ,yet because it evolves through a great guitar solo by Daryl Jahnke it isn't monotonous, which only confirms the genius of Mai's arranging ability. This is also the first piece that introduces the Bandoneon (a complicated accordian style instrument best known for the Argentinean Tango}

3- POR LA VENTANA-this set exits with a somewhat experimental and very interesting duet of urban night sounds between Vince's muted trumpet and Daniel Binelli's bandoneon.

4- SUBTE- the second set begins with the title track. It's the term used by the residents of Buenos Aires for their subway. This is very modern cool mixture of funk and electronica also using some of the sounds of the underground. Watch for the amazingly quick fx trumpet licks.

5- EL CASTILLO- a more traditional sounding Brazillian style. This tune features Tanya Hancheroff 's wordless vocals in unison with Vince's trumpet in combination with Jahnke on acoustic classical guitar and the driving percussion by Rapheal Geronimo of Rumba Calzada.

6- NAKED PROJECTIONS-this chapter ends again with another experimental track solely showcasing his talents on trumpet and funky programmed percussion.

7- GECKO-one of my favourite tracks and the first tune in the last set. This is a smooth sultry very danceable tune with many flowing changes and solo's. Vince again brings in a new elements by introducing Brad Turner on Fender Rhodes along with that always great Pepe percussion.

8- FOR CAROLE-a mellow etherial piece with trumpet and flugelhorn and leans toward a typical sound which has become Mai's signature, this time with a twist. He's added that funky synth percussion and keyboards.

9- PUMPIN- Vince is showing off his versatility with a tune of almost pure electronica only broken by acoustic flugelhorn riffs.

10- NOVA BOSSA- as the name depicts a return to a more traditional Latin rhythm only with slightly more creative playful nature combining synth and Rapheal's acoustic percussion. Vince also introduces yet another new artist not yet heard, Rebecca Shiochet on wordless vocals. This track is definitely worth waiting for as one of the best offerings with solo and duet combinations . Very cool.

In conclusion I think this is Mai's best work to date. He's cracked the jar and allowed his creative juices to spill out. Way to go Vince.

by Darryl Klause - 2003

"For All We Know"

The Georgia Straight (Vancouver, BC)

There's nothing unpredictable in this batch of standards plus one original, but trumpet and flugelhorn player Vince Mai has a full bodied, Freddie Hubbard-inflected sound that makes most of the cuts fly. The Miles-and-Miles rhythm section - pianist Miles Black with bassist Miles Hill and drummer Dave Robbins - provides smoothly rippling support for Mai and singer Tania Hancheroff, who takes a little while to warm to. The effect turns out to be largely salutary, however, as this shines a brighter light on the leader's horn. And it catches you by surprise when Hancheroff gets riled up, as she does on a sexy reading of "Teach Me Tonight". Her impact, cumulatively, is both subtle and intriguing.

- Ken Eisner - August 30, 2001

The Georgia Straight (Vancouver, BC)

Trumpet player Vince Mai is best known around town as a member of jazz-funk band Soulstream and of Latin ensemble Orquesta Goma Dura. For his debut solo release, however, Mai has chosen to return to his primary influence: vintage cool jazz. Backed by Miles Black on piano, Miles Hill on bass, and Dave Robbins on drums, he reinterprets a string of classic tunes, from Antonio Carlos "Tom" Jobim's "Triste" to Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern's " All The Things You Are". Most of the ten tracks are graced by the sensual, velvet voice of fellow Soulstreamer Tania Hancheroff.

The sound is romantic but never syrupy; Mai never dominates the proceedings, giving all the musicians room to breathe. For All We Know is a strongly coherent work... this is a lovely album, as smooth and sultry as an August night.

-Tony Montague- Sept 28, 2000

Upbeat - AFofM local 145 (Vancouver)

Mix the impressive jazz talents of pianist Miles Black, bassist Miles Hill, drummer Dave Robbins and vocalist Tania Hancheroff with that of trumpeter/producer Vince Mai and you have an extremely well produced CD of ten exceptional jazz performances. Vince, who plays trumpet and flugelhorn on the CD, co-arranged the nine standards and one of his originals "Why Didn't You Tell Me" with Miles Black. The CD entitled "Vince Mai - "FOR ALL WE KNOW", provides the listener with a quasi Miles, very calm, relaxing and spacey jazz performance from everyone. It is obvious to me that everything has been well thought out in advance of the recording. The great feeling emanating from this jazz production doesn't happen by chance. I give the CD an "EE" rating for "extremely enjoyable". Add this CD to your collection, it is a must for any jazz fan.

- Bobby Hales- AFofM local 145 president - Sept, 2000

Vancouver Sun - 3 out of 4 stars - ***/****

- Marke Andrews, Vancouver Sun, Jan 2001