This disc caught me completely by surprise. Vocalist Heather Masse comes across like a classic swing era canary, mixing clarity and style like a Helen Forrest or Francis Wayne. Roswell Rudd comes from the left side of things, mixing growls, spurts and gurgles that came come in and go out to a variety of angles. Together, they team up with Rolf Sturm/g and Mark Helias/b for a winning mix of style and adventure.
Part of the time Masse bounces along with hot jazz swingers like “Social Call” and the title track as Rudd glides and slides like Ricky Henderson and the rhythm boys chime like its 42nd Street. Then, you get a read of Ellington’s “Mood Indigo” that has trombonist growling like a one man jungle band, quoting other Ducal pieces in the process while Masse creates stained glass reflections and holds notes like morning lights shining through. She then goes wordlessly wild like a Max Fletcher movie gone awry on “Winter Blues” holding the last note with the trumpeter to see who can be the last gun standing. Get grabs you by the throat with a harrowing intro of “Blackstrap Molasses” before popping the clutch and tearing off into a cruising “Old Devil Moon,” making you wonder just where you came from. The mix of the ribald and rich veer back and forth on “ Open House” and the closing “Love Is Here To Stay,” with each song sounding both completely spontaneous yet carefully choreographed so as not to cause a traffic jam. Wonderful mix of melody and mirth. Are they going on the road with this?!?
Red House Records