You gotta love George Gee. I’ve heard 2-3 of his albums by now, and he sticks to his goal of being the primary evangelist for the sounds of the Swing Era. He’s gonna make you a believer on this honey of a record, as he mixes originals by director/trombonist David Johnson with standards that make you feel like you’re back in the Roseland Ballroom.
The band has the Basie Shuffle down pat on Gibson’s hip “Comin’ Home” and the sax section of Ed Pazant/as, Michael Hashim/ts and Anthony Lustig/bs is as rich as sorghum on the tasty “Midnight In A Madhouse” and “Bedrock.” The team can drive like a wagon train in with Willard Dyson on drums during “ The Road to Roscoes” and you get some nice vocals by Hilary Gardner as she gets coos on “Sweet Pumpkin” and saucy on “ If I Were A Bell.” The tip of the hat, though, goes to honey-toned vocalist John Dokes who goes OC Smith on an earthy “ Baby Won’t You Please Come Home” and takes you to 18th and Vine on ”I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water” and “Evenin’.” No mere nostalgia here; these guys make yesterday’s music sound like tomorrow!
Rondette Records
www.rondettejazz.co