Three various sounds of swing and folk…
Alice Howe has a rich Joni Mitchell tone to her voice as she gives laid back and folksy tunes on this ten song album. Bass legend Freebo joins in with a collection of guests including JT Thomas/org, Jeff Fielder/slg, Fuzzbee Morse/g, John Molo/dr and some horn 
players popping in. She gives a rural read to Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” And sways with the saxes on a homey “Bring It On Home To ME.” She has boogie fun on “Getaway Car’ and gives a hint of Carlene Carter country on “Too Long AT the Fair” and the tender “What W Got Is Gold” with a bluegrass nimbleness to “You Just Never Know.” McCabes moments.
The duo of Jody Stephens and Luther Russell get together for a collection of folksy themes. A times the two sound like a modern read of the LA-based band America on the streaming “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” and “It’s About Love” with clean pickings on”A Day In The Park.” More electric sounds and vocal harmonies evoke thoughts about The Byrds on the upbeat “Ain’t Nobody But Me” and “The Carousel” with “the honky tonking “Undertow reminiscent of vintage Alan Price. Unpretentious, casual and lyrical.
Fun and Western Swing is delivered in buckets with the trio of Elana James/vo-vi, Whit Smith/g-voc and Jake Erwin/b-voc along with guests Damien Llanes/dr, Joe Kerr/p and Oliver Rajamani/perc. James’ violin and voice are in upbeat moods on the Bob Wills-inspired ‘My Candy” while she gets bluegrassy on “High Upon the Mountain.” She’s clever and cute on the hilarious ‘Near Mrs.” and gives a nice Cajun two step to “Tall Tall Ship” twanging away on “Rodeo Blues.” Smith is slinky on “Easy Money” and lays out some nice Chet Atkins licks as he sings on ”Caveman” and bops to “How High The Moon.” Most hip of all is a Dave Brubeck-esque “Ways Of Escape” that oozes in coolness, with “Three Little Words” rich with vocal harmonies. Ah Ha!