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July 01, 2006
That dazzling So Cal couple, Craig and Mary Durst, aka 2AZZ1, have come up with another winner. It's called DRIVEN, and "Q'd Up," the first hit single, is just the tip of the iceberg. This second album ("Ready" was 2AZZ1's debut disc in '01) is hot stuff, with ten great Mary Durst originals...all of them memorable and captivating, whether sensual ballads or lively romps, vocals or instrumentals. 2AZZ1 includes Steve Billman on bass, Brian Price on guitar, and features guest Steve Oliver on the tasty Latin "La Palapa," a salute to one of the band's favorite Long Beach hangs. Mary plays keyboards throughout, and sings on four tunes, including "Tell Me," a hooky little excursion that's sure to get its share of radio airplay and "Heaven Is Here," a smooth, sensual ballad, with intriguing interplay between Mary's captivating voice and Craig's sultry sax. Speaking of Craig's sax, it shines brightly on the 6 instrumentals. Besides the first hit single, I really dig "All Day Sunday" and "Swing Ahead." Craig and Mary knew each other growing up in Michigan, reconnected as their musical careers led them both to L.A., and have since fallen in love, married, and formed one of the hottest bands on the L.A. club and festival scenes. 2AZZ1 has shown an impressive maturing of their music with DRIVEN. It's eminently listenable and total ear candy from start to finish. You'll hear exactly what I mean when you partake of this delicious new collection of tunes!~SCOTT O'BRIEN
Smooth Jazz ®
Week Of: August 7, 2006
Carol Archer
The Music Says "Summer"
A perfect place to begin listening is the buoyant mid-tempo grooves of Gerald Albright's appealing "Deep Into My Soul" (Peak). Whoa, can he play! Segue to Doc Powell's artful, sensual cover of Carole King's "It's Too Late" (Heads Up), which features Kirk Whalum and Brian Culbertson -- an embarrassment of riches, you may prefer the non-vocal or unplugged versions. Peter Frampton's back with a nuevo flamenco-styled con percussion track, "Ida Y Vuelta (Out & Back)" (UMe). Bad cat Steve Raybine earns good karma with a tune that sounds like a smooth jazz anthem, "Breckenridge Blue" (Bad Kat). The title of the cleverly named duo 2AZZ1's "Q'd Up" (CMD) may be an homage to Spaghettini Jazz Bar & Grill's maitre d' named Q, who plays an integral part of the success of KTWV (The Wave)/Los Angeles' Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch. 2AZZ1 are local heroes who have a groove-laden tune on your desk now. Is it time for a cool beverage? How about now-ish?
INLAND EMPIRE WEEKLY
Week Of: October 2, 2006
2AZZ1
“Nothing can be further removed / Not everyone wants to be soothed . ” I remember taking to heart those words sung by British rocker Graham Parker in 1983's “Passive Resistance.” At the time, much of pop music was lacking in both heart and fire, and Parker's scowl and no-holds-barred delivery sucked me in.
Only living has gotten a tad more complicated these days, and to borrow a song title from singer/songwriter Iris Dement, easy's gettin' harder every day. Truth is, sometimes we do want to be soothed, or at least offered a temporary escape from the shit life throws at us. And the one group I'm turning to right now to decompress is 2AZZ1, a SoCal smooth jazz couple featuring singer/songwriter/keyboardist Mary Durst and her saxophone-playing hubby, Craig.
Now I've been known to rip smooth jazz as being slick, overproduced, and, at its worst, mind-numbing. Yet there's something about the enigmatic 2AZZ1 that puts me both at ease and lifts me up. The duo's latest release, … Driven , roams sweetly from tender ballads to swinging instrumental workouts, the latter showcasing Craig's dexterous, well-placed chops.
Onstage, the couple radiates a warm charisma that's downright contagious. At a recent gig at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, the energy between the Dursts and the audience was palpable, one that fostered a feel-good vibe lasting long into the night. Who knew? (John Roos)
THE CLAREMONT DEPOT JAZZ SERIES PRESENTS 2AZZ1 AT THE CLAREMONT DEPOT, 200 W. FIRST ST., CLAREMONT, (909) 399-5490. FRI., 6-8:30 P.M. FREE. ALL AGES.
COSMICRADIO.COM
Travis Towle
2002
You guys have some GREAT sounding music, something I have never heard before!!! I think our listeners will like the new sound... VERY PRO cd!!
SMOOTHJAZZ.COM
Jazz Promoter Sandy Shore
2002
Album: REaDy!
Label: CMD
Craig and Mary Durst are 2AZZ1 (read 'two as one''). This upbeat, funky smooth
jazz duo is based out of Southern California where they have led their five-piece group to become one of the South Land's most popular pop jazz bands on the club & festival scene. Their latest recording, "REaDy" is a power packed, feel-good fusion of smooth jazz and pop driven by Craig Durst's solid sax work and heated up by Mary Durst's energetic vocals and keyboards. The fun factor on this project comes in the form of surprise with smooth groovin' hip hop and rap with urban elements spun through several of the tunes. This is a trend that we here at Smoothjazz.com give two thumbs up to. Smooth Jazz be bumpin' on REaDy! This is the perfect CD to accompany your daily work-out. We're sure Craig and Mary would be very pleased with that usage of their music as the two are as dedicated t | 
