Bandleader Michael Gamble brings the “hotcha” back in hot jazz on this exciting tribute to two beat swing. He plays bass and leads a snappy rhythm team of Josh Collazo/dr, James Posedel- Brooks Prumo/g, Craig Gildner/p as well as a rich reed section of Keenan McKenzie and Paul Cosentino,a brass section of Gordon Au with Noah Hoeker and David Wilken, as well as lead guitar work by Jonathan Stout and hp to the jive vocals by Russ Wilson (who also drums a bit) and Laura Windley.
You get a generous selection of 18, count ‘em, 18 swingers and standards with some fun and frenzied singing on “What A Night, What A Moon, What A Boy” and “He Ain’t Go Rhythm” by Windley, and “Who’s Sorry Now?” with Wilson riding the high surf of the horn section.
And speaking of horns…I can’ tfigure if Cosentino and McKenzie are playing tenor or C Melody, as their respective tones are so old school that you’ll do a double take on the Prez-inspired “What About Lester” as well as the tip to Ben Webster on “Woke Up Clipped.” Likewise, the clarinet slides with some nice grease on “I Never Knew” and “Seven Come Eleven” swings like the proverbial gate. Posedel’s piano is Basie spacious on the jivey “Sweets” and gets saloon honky tonkin’ on “Slidin and Glidin’”. A real toe tapper!