A real treat for fans of swing
586329
I discovered this album on Pandora, after I'd had "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" stuck in my head for three days, and I was looking to glut myself on some good old-fashioned swing music. Much to my surprise, mixed in with the greats like Fitzgerald, Ellington, and Armstrong, popped up this little gem! I fell in love instantly. No one would mistake this album's modern feel for vintage jazz, but it definitely holds its own in that company. I'm not sure how I missed this one back in the '90s, but I'm definitely glad to have discovered it now!
216749
Two decades ago, ZaZuZaz had a substantial cult following in NJ, during the days when disco and New Wave dominated the air waves. This 20-year reunion CD, recorded live in 1999, reflects the collective expertise of this veteran jazz/swing/rock band. Swing fans will be delighted by their creative renditions of such classics as Jersey Bounce, Jumpin' at the Woodside and This Could Be the Start of Something Big. But ZaZuZaz is not all about swing. Two ballads, Daydreaming and Turn up the Radio, were written by lead vocalist and guitarist Machon Taylor, whose vocal virtuosity is reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald. Other tunes simply rock. The other veteran musicians on this CD, Grover Kemble (lead vocals/guitar), John Gatti (keyboards/clarinet), Dave Miller (bass/vocals) and Tim Solook (drums/vocals), are all still at the top of their musical games, and you can almost feel their camraderie during the four and five part harmonies on several numbers.
At the SRO concert where this CD was recorded, the audience was wildly enthusiastic on several occasions, and fans brought their children with them for an inter-generational love in. This live CD reflects ZaZuZaz's timeless appeal.
1938362
21 tracks of fabulous Hot Jazz/Swing! I hadn't hear the majority of these tunes and they really inspire me to explore the Jazz of the early 30's.  I particularly enjoyed the bands take on Earl Hines' Cavernism.  A bit slower  that the original, but still full of energy!  I also like 'King Of Swing'  which was terrific fun. Georgia Jubilee is rather fast and full of pep.  This band is really fast and energetic.  Some lindy hoppers may have a  little trouble keeping up, but the music really swings, so they won't care  too much! It would be great to hear originals from this band in the future,  in the spirit of the tunes on their current playlist. Fantastic!
281590
Many are not familiar with Page Cavanaugh who is one of the top swing pianists still playing today, his trio back in the 40's was very popular with hits like The Three Bears.  Page's style back than was simsilar to Nat Cole's Trio, cmplete with whispered vocals and guitar instead of drums.  For thsi superior live set the trio is in fine form with bass master Phil Mallory, Page sings a bit, and plays swinging jazz like crazy!  The only downpoint(and it's a big one) is you have to put up with a throwaway vocal from the talentless Michael Feinstein(who produced this)on Get Out & Get Under The Moon.  If you can program your cd player to skip that one, you'll be in good shape because other than that this is a 5 star cd.  This even includes a charming version of his hit Three Bears!!!  Well worth picking up.
1374466
As the title of the review says, this album has great tunes to kick up a swinging party.

I would recommend this for all James Last fans and those looking for some good music to make even just a simple dinner party, memorable.
1916855
A lot of people don't know that CPD are much much more than just swing.  Their debut albums rung of ska, punk, and other branches of alternative roots.  But with the success of their last album (one which featured solely their swing background), I feared that this follow-up would be a sell-out attempt by the CPD to create another Zoot Suit Riot.  While I am a big fan of their swing aspect, I admire their versitility on the previous albums, and I dreaded upon listening to this album that it would be one composed entirely of swinging tunes.
I was delighted - this is the cherry poppin' daddies playing what they were meant to play and what they want to play - good music.  "Good music" entails swing, alternative, punk, and everything in between - everything.  CPD are certinally talented in every respect, and this album is certinally worth your while.  However, if you (unlike me) were anticipating a swing-dance-in-one-album routine, you may be disappointed.  But that shouldn't draw you away from purchasing this CD, it is superb in every aspect.
The Daddies are back playing what they want to play.  Any long-time daddies fans know what I mean, and they will undoubtedly be delighted by this daddies effort as well.
1044340
If you like big band era swing, you'll love this album.  Great dance tunes or just for nostalgia. I love it on my Kindle for whenever I want to listen to great music!
1140914
Jive Aces is a new band to me.  After a friend sent me a YouTube video of "Happy All the While," I sought out more of their videos and music.  On this album, "Sway" and "Fever" are especially outstanding.  It's hard to be blue, listening to these great tunes.  Their style evokes the big swing bands with energy and clearly sung lyrics.  How can one sit still with this kind of swing?  Happy feet!
3683245
The Light Crust Doughboys basically invented Western Swing back in the 1930's but unfortunately have not been well represented in the world of CDs. There have been 2 mediocore releases from German's indie Cattle label, and one superb one from Origin Jazz...and now comes this excellent release from the well-respected Krazy Kat. Fortunately this CD does not duplicate many (if any) tracks from those previous releases. It also largely stays away from the common tracks that have appeared already on many Western Swing compilations. If you are a fan of this type of music, you certainly do not want to miss this long overdue release. Musicianship is top-notch and many songs feature the ever-awesome and energetic Dick Reinhart on vocals.
4907172
With the addition of this latest CD, I now have all of Anthony Warlow's music. He is a singer/performer with such magnificent vocal control that he easily is able to approach this collection of "Swing Era" tunes with such ease and grace . Warlow gives new life to old standards, with such impeccable phrasing, that you will not hear any better versions than his."Autumn Leaves" will leave you breathless and "Moonglow" will leave a smile in your heart. Get it and get back in the swing.
2416474
Jimmy Buffett really knows how to play to a crowd.  Many of renditions of Jimmy's songs, Volcano, Fins, Margartiaville, Jolly Mon Sing, etc.. feature subtle little lyric changes and spicy arrangements.  The intro conversations on You'll Never Work In This Bidness Again and Gypsies In The Palace are hillarious in this live setting.  Furthermore, Jimmy's live banter describing many of his great classic tunes really gives the listener a very upfront experience as to what his concerts are like.
 He is certainly very appreciative of his fans.  So give this one a try.  You will not be dissapointed.
3345934
For those new to this sound and this CD Swingadelic is one of the leading swing-jazz-blues "little big bands" from the New York area. And if this is your introduction to their talent and sound, then there couldn't be a better one. On this recording they pay tribute to Allen Toussaint,  an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.  The many tunes here are the creations of Toussaint - some very well known such as `Java' and `Working in a Coal Mine' and other only tangentially known so far -  but the arrangements are clearly those of Swingadelic specialties.

The artists who make up the group in clued Audrey Welber, alto sax and clarinet, Paul Carlon, tenor and soprano sax, John DiSanto, baritone sax, Albert Leusink, trumpet, Carlos Francis, trumpet, Rob Susman, trombone, Rob Edwards, trombone, Neal Pawley, trombone, Boo Reiners, guitar, John Bauers, piano and organ, Dave Post, bass, Jason Pharr, drums, and Jimmy Coleman, drums.  The many vocals numbers (9 of the 15) are splendidly sung by Queen Esther, John Bauers, Neal Pawley, and Rob Paparozzi.

The tracks are as follows:
Night People
Southern Nights
Yes We Can Can
Java
Ruler of my Heart
Get Out of my Life, Woman
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
Working in a Coal Mine
Whipped Cream
Fairchild
Up the Creek
Mr. Toussaint.

The sound? SOLID!  This is `get down music' that won't fail to make you jump for joy. Swingadelic - and the works of Allen Toussaint - make for one terrific evening of music celebration.  Grady Harp, April 13
4384326
Volume IV brings smiles to my face with its wide, fun selection of tunes.

I LOVE seeing "I Love Lucy" in here and other TV themes.
A really eclectic mix all the way from "I Feel Good" by James Brown
to fusion tunes by Mike Stern, Chick Corea, plus plenty of big
band classics, standards, pop songs, Bill Evans tunes, obscure jazz tunes,
 "Minute by Minute" by the Doobies, etc, etc,  a great mix.

And a bunch of tunes that were missing from previous Hal Leonard
Real Book volumes (when compared to the original underground Real Book) are now
included, like "Days of Wine and Roses", "A Foggy Day", and others.

The only truly weird thing is the 2 page lead sheet for KoKo
by Charlie Parker omits the 'head'.  It has the composed
interludes, it has the chords but omits Bird's melody of KoKo.
Every bebop fan and musician knows KoKo has a wonderful, composed melody, not just
solos as shown here.  It's like a page is missing, but the pages are numbered correctly.
There are plenty of other Charlie Parker tunes that ARE included,
with correct melody, so .... a minor mystery... or error...
4547318
If you like the new modern swing music you will love this CD BUY IT before they are all gone!
3835072
LIVE! (CD/DVD)
FEATURING NICHOLAS GUNN, DAVID ARKENSTONE, JOANNES LINSTEAD AND LOREN GOLD

I first heard David Arkenstone several decades ago on a CD called In The Wake of the Wind and I became a fan.  Then, maybe a decade ago, I came across flutist Nicholas Gunn doing a series of albums about the deserts of Arizona and the Grand Canyon, and I got hooked on him.  About two years ago I heard an album by Johannes Linstead and found him to be one of the catchiest new modern flamenco guitar players to come along.  I have never heard pianist Loren Gold before, but he apparently has a couple of CDs out and tours with pop acts.

So all four of these acts are signed to the Gemini Sun label after kicking around elsewhere over the years (apparently Gunn runs the label).  Since all four of these artists are comfortable performing in concert (which many so-called new age artists aren't), they decided to do a concert together and record and film it.  The artists all get interviewed briefly too (although I did not care for that part much).

This combination CD and DVD package is the result, and it is actually quite exciting.  The concert moves rapidly with a lot of energy.  Each musician gets a spotlight section and then they join together for the 7:30 encore piece.  They have one band that plays behind all of them including a couple of guys on drums and percussion giving a world-beat flair to many of the tunes.

Very seldom do new age artists put out concert albums.  Many of them are simply studio hounds and don't play live.  A few play select shows, but seldom tour. It probably is not cost-effective.  And when you do see one in concert, it often is at a Borders or Barnes & Noble store, plus the artist is playing by themselves to backing tracks, and the atmosphere is not conducive to really enjoying the abbreviated show.  So to see four really good musicians with a great band perform in a regular concert hall, and hear them get to stretch out on several tunes (one of Arkenstone's compositions is over eight minutes), and jam together and with the band, it is a real thrill.  And even though this package costs a little bit more than usual because it contains a CD and a DVD, it is worth it because none of us get much of a chance to enjoy this kind of music in a concert setting very often.  I was not familiar with most of the material, but apparently all of it has been on the acts' various studio albums.  So if you already know the tunes, you will probably really dig these concert versions.  According to the record company's written background information, several of these live versions are considerably different than the studio versions (in one case the studio saxophone is replaced in concert by flute, for example).

I highly recommend this recording for anyone who likes energetic, non-synthesized, mostly-acoustic new age music; and for anyone who simply likes a good concert film of contemporary instrumental musicians playing their butts off.
1624231
I heard this playing at the record store at the local mall. It stopped me dead. Who was it? It was these guys. This album is Go, Go, Go and when its done, just play it some more. Tracks worth playing untill the neighbours  call the cops are 'go daddy o' and 'the boogie bumper'. The cover of  'minnie the moocher' is a real credit to the band. Considering buying your  first swing album? Get this one. Thier website is well worth checking out.
4627362
Swing makes me happy, especially when its George Gee and his orchestra! With their charm and talent, these guys will easily become your favorite big band, and keep you dancing until you happen to glance at your phone and wonder how it got so late. So grateful for this recording! Now I have my own mini-portable-George-Gee-orchestra to take with me wherever I go!