After getting tired of the limitations and nihilism of rock, and the lack of progress in classical, I ventured out into the unknown world of jazz. It was the music like such played on this cd/2dvd performed by by Terry Gibbs/vib, Jim Rothermel-Buddy DeFranco/cl, Clark Terry/tp, Jackie Ryan/voc and the others on this collection of concerts from 1998-2001 that got me hooked on the joyous and infectious thing called swing and bop. The “Swing Fever Rhythm Section” consists here of Jim Putman/g, Ruth Davies-Dean Reilly/b and Tony Johnson-Harold Jones/dr, and let me tell you, they get the rpms up like there’s no tomorrow. They snap open “Airmail Special” for Gibbs and Rothermel and get you hooked on the first 4 bars. DeFranco coos on “Speak Low” and Terry delivers a muted trumpet solo on a slinky and splanky “Topsy” and “Swingin’ The Blues” that will meet you at the corner of 18th and Vine. Then, if you want vocals, Jackie Ryan jumps out of the cake for deliveries of “East of the Sun” and “You Go To My Head” that will make your head spin. Terry cuddles with Ryan on a cozy “Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone,” while he gets harmlessly lascivious on “I Want A Little Girl”. Ray Loeckle delivers a breathy tenor solo on “Liza” right after DeFranco makes taffy out of it, and the band sounds like they’re having a gas of a time with Ryan on a delightful “My Lean Baby.” Pure joy, pure energy, pure talent with no gimmicks, snobbery, dancers or light shows. All you feel is HEAT!!!
The double dvd set helps you appreciate the comraderie of the musicians as well as little visual tricks of the trade like Terry’s muted-unmuted trumpet duet with himself, DeFranco’s nimble fingers dancing over the clarinet and Ryan’s bouyant beauty. Seeing is believing!
Open Art Productions
www.cityhallrecords.com