From SmoothjazzTherapy.com, November, 2009

The Dangling Success is a New York based collective with a penchant for smoky groove drenched contemporary jazz. Formed of five seasoned musicians who have played with the likes of the Isley Brothers, the Shirelles and Don Mclean, the band made it’s recording debut with the critically acclaimed ‘Chilled Champagne’. Now, brand new for 2009, they are back with ‘City Life’.

The album starts out with the atmospherically languid title cut which is enhanced in no small measure by great keys from Daniel Odescalchi. In fact Odescalchi’s tight interventions are a feature throughout and this is particularly so with ‘Still Together’ which quite simply is an extravaganza of mid tempo rhythm and melody. Equally notable are the contributions of Mark (Dr Sax) Neikowitz on saxes. He grabs attention with his performance on the energetically mid tempo ‘Private Party’ and elsewhere instils a zesty groove into the aptly titled ‘Catch The Groove’. Given the significant input of Gioran Wilkins on guitar, this is a track that epitomises the genuine ensemble nature of The Dangling Success and when they conjure up a nice version of Carlos Santana’s ‘Europa’ Wilkins again proves a capable foil to Neikowitz’s heartfelt playing.

‘Better Late Than Never’ is one of two tunes to be thus far serviced to radio. It has a jazzy swing spliced with a feisty edge and, although the rolling ‘Beast Of Burden’ is magically easy on the ear, ‘Last Call’ turns out to be a jazzy swinger with the attributes necessary to send party-goers happily homeward.

The band briefly notches down the tempo for the silky ‘Heaven Sent’ while ‘Morning Sunshine’ has that inbuilt feel good vibe synonymous with the best examples of great smooth jazz. Mike McDonough on bass plus Paul Rossman on drums hold things down in fine style and when Odescalchi again cuts loose on keys the result is wonderful. It’s a number that seems certain to help The Dangling Success to make a mark yet just as good is ‘Finally Home’. Arguably the album’s best track it is another song for which ‘feel good’ would be an apt descriptor.

‘City Life’ is as surprising as it is delightful and deserves to do well. For more go to www.danglingsuccess.com