LA-based guitarist Bruce Forman divides his time instructing at USC, doing local gigs as a solo artist and leading a Western Swing band called Cow Bop that has a regular gig at Viva Cantina in Burbank. This cd has the Cow Bop band in full stride, consisting of the foundation of Forman with Pinto Pammy/voc, David Wise/sax-cornet, Alex King/b and Jake Reed/dr along with guests that bring extra voice, strings, horns and piano. The songs are from the period when people, now, you might not believe this…but they actually DANCED to jazz! Yes! It wasn’t just for sitting and watching. And even better, the only categories back then were “Sweet” or “Hot” meaning “dancing” or “DANCING” respectively. Not only that, but the music was FUN!
This band reflects the joy of swing a la Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys with songs like “Roly Poly” that are guaranteed to put a toe tapping smile on your face. Then, they one-up Dean Martin with a sizzling “Mambo Italiano” and even give Duke Ellington some western wear with “A Gal in Calico.” A smoking two stepper is delivered on “I’ve Found A New Baby” which includes Dan Barrett on trombone, while “These Boots are Made for Walking” has Pammy out cooing Frankie’s daughter by a country mile. This disc is a party animal, and yet it’s easy to overlook how hip these musicians are. Go for it!