Guymon Ensley & GEQ

"I'd heard nothing but rave reviews about the GEQ, the (Guymon Ensley Quintet) from pianist Phil Lesky, so I decided to give this band a chance at WEMU's Blues and Jazz stage at the 2003 Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. This is one of the best chances I've ever taken as WEMU's Music Director. The crown in Ypsilanti raved about them and listeners are now calling and asking about the CD. The GEQ had folks singing along with straight-ahead jazz melodies (no mean feat!) The GEQ had folks patting their feet, nodding their heads, clapping their hands and shaking many other parts of their anatiomy. When Cornelious "Ju-Ju" Johnson took the microphone, he took listeners with him to new heights of screaming, passionalte delight. The GEQ has that "secret something" of great jazz ensembles. They play music of the highest artistic quality, yet they relate to the audience one-on-one, just like the greats such as Cannonball Adderley, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington and the Heath Brothers. The GEQ reminds you of the late great Detroit jazz musicians such as Pistol Allen, Beans Bowles and Teddy Harris-musicians who never compromised artistic integrity, yet entertained the listeners in the finest sense of the word. When I recievied their CD, I hoped that their studio work wouldn't come off as a pale imitation of their live performance. My fears were quickly assuaged. The disc is strong, swinging and every bit as vital as the GEQ live. I hope there are many discs to come and many more engagements coming from this first rate jazz ensemble. I'll be there at ther upcoming engagement at the Ford-Detroit International Jazz Festival. I would'nt miss this triumphant closer for the festival with this new gem of Detroit jazz in the Guymon Ensley Quintet." - Linda Yohn - Musical Director: WEMU 89.1

Although GEQ is new to the Lansing JazzFest, their energy and talent is surely one that exudes experience. Guymon Ensley formed this rare gem back in 2001 and sought to become a group of classic jazz, be-bop and nujazz. The energy of this group has been compared respectfully to the likes of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and the John Coltrane and Miles Davis ensembles. - Rosie Goacher - Michigan Institute Of Contemporary Art

"One of Detroit area's hottest bands for the last two years has been GEQ, the (Guymon Ensley Quintet). Ensley brings a strong trumpet presence to the table and is well supported by Cornelious "Ju-Ju" Johnson on sax, Kerry Lacy on bass, Alex Brooks on drums, and Phil Lesky on piano. The band specializes in the jazz classics, be-bop, and post-bop. They have a dynamic style and lots of energy. If you're looking for soft and mellow, you'll have to look elsewhere. [We do pretty much straight ahead jazz,] says Ensley. [But no smooth stuff,] he added quickly. Ensley demonstrated his bands attention to detail and there ability to faithfully deal with the classics without sacrificing their own style when he closed his set with a rendition a Duke Ellington's Take the A Train that left the crowd buzzing." - Brett Fischbach, Editor, Lake County Star

GEQ was selected over all others in the U.S. to perform as a jazz "group," aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship "Destiny" for seven days in the Eastern Caribbean. While cruising the ports San Juan, Guadeloupe, Barbados and Trinidad, GEQ performed original Bebop style tunes from the pen of Guymon Ensley as well as Classic Jazz and Bebop arrangements of tunes by such legendary artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. GEQ shared the bill with Jeffery Osborne, Yolanda Adams and the Isley Brothers. - Blue World Travel

GEQ boarded the Norwegian Cruise Lines' "Pride Of Aloha" with one thing in mind . . . to leave the passengers spinin' and "well jazzed." And after hitting the islands of Honolulu, Kona, Hilo and Kahului, twice each in forteen days, the passengers aboard who knew what they were were listening to wanted more. The group laid out their best from their repertoire with the likes of Monk's "Well You Needn't and "Straight No Chaser," Wayne Shorter's "Pinocchio" and Bird's Ornithology. Of course the sounds of some of Guy's originals, "Dar Twas (Nancy)," "Knowbody Knows I'm Here," "Oh Yeah" and "Here Put This On" were hits as well. GEQ also belted out several numbers on the current CD, HERE PUT THIS ON . . . the special arrangements of "A Night In Tunisia" and "Take The A Train" were especially a hit. GEQ shared the bill with Frankie Beverly and Maze ad The Whispers. -

"The Guymon Ensley Quintet CD, "Here. .put this On", is in the pocket advice for contemporary jazz fans. This CD smokes - and whether they are taking on Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia" or Shorter's "Speak No Evil", they have put together a satisfying 9-track set of envelope pushing jazz standards. Dependable and exotic at times, Ensley's tones are terrific - but the highlight on this CD is the tone and kinetic psychosis found in sax man, Cornelius "Ju-Ju" Johnson's playing. Listen to the clip of "Ornightology" - Ensley paints a canvas gently with muted trumpet - for Ju-Ju to come in and throw paint around perfectly. .splat. Track 3 is more of the same - Ju-Ju to the rescue in the snow in, "Break; Due to Snow". .exciting stuff here. The odyssey of "Speak No Evil" is a thirteen minute walking groove jazz slice of nice. Pianist, Phillip Lesky, is the adult of the group and keeps the 'in the pocket' firmly against the breast. .just over the heart. The CD ends with a pumping rendition of 'Take the A Train', mp3'd here as an entire tune. .it's ominous and pure. Another wonderful CD from Ensley and his close musical comrades." - Don Kimenker - earBuzz Distribution

"Guymon Ensley has captured a space in time on his CD, "Meet Guymon Ensley". The Detroit jazz trumpeteer takes his tone (midway between a Herb Alpert effected sound and Mangione heart) and plays with palatable maturity. In the opening tune on this 4-track CD, "She's on Her Way" - Ensley takes a compelling yet breezy melody and gently rides the exemplary jazz back band to a very satisfying place. Track 2, "Grandma's Hand", is a group-play jazz wonder. The mp3 clip here of the tune is from the end of the tune - and the band is in that space - noodling and soothe-ling the listener to a frenzy. Ensley speeds it all up in track 3's, "Sonic n' C" - horn section and signature high frequency trumpet stabs fill the space while guitarist, Randal Wilson, throws a couple of out on the edge chromatic fun chops our way. The final track, "What a Funk Down", is a journey down a busy city subway on a cool misty night. The groove supports Ensley's improvisational abandon as he effortlessly flies from possessed soloist to pocket melodist. Wonderful stuff - great CD." - Don Kimenker - earBuzz Distribution

Guymon Ensley, trumpeter and bandleader, has brought a new sound to Baker's with his ensemble GEQ, characterized by a cool yet meaty style of Jazz that is most popular with our clientele. - John Colbert owner - Baker's Keyboard, Detroit Michigan