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Red Light – Indigo Swing

1999
SQ Issue:  Winter 1999 - Volume 10, Issue 1

 Indigo Swing is:
Baron Shul – saxophones, flute; William Beatty – piano, vocals; “Big Jim” Overton – drums; Josh Workman – guitar, vocals; Vance Ehlers – string bass; Johnny Boyd, “The Swing Lover” – Lead Vocals

 “The appeal of Indigo Swing (IS) is hard to understand without witnessing first-hand the musical phenomenon they have helped to create.  They turn out a sound drawn from early rock and roll, jump blues, boogie Woogie and WWII-era sweet swing.  You only have to check the scene when IS hits the stage to understand that this isn’t some retro trend.  In fact, it’s all about the moment, a moment right now, at the cusp of the millennium, amid a time of peace, prosperity and optimism unparalleled in the 20th century.  It’s about a generation every day demonstrating that technology means big community not Big Brother and that the future looks brighter when you don’t turn you back on glowing moments in the past.” – press release.

This CD is smmmmooooottthhh…….  From the very first cut, Red Light, to the last cut, Guillaume’s Pepper Step, you’ll love this band. 

If you like the slower tunes, you’re going to love Red Light, The Best You Can Be, and Stayin’ Up Late With Sonny.  These are all in the 130’s for bpm. 

You can kick it up a notch with Another Day In L.A., They Say I Must Be Crazy, and Love’s Gonna Find You.  My favorite song, Another Day In L.A., falls into this category.  These all fall in around 155–175 bpm. 

For the fast and furious, there’s Hot Pot Boogie, which has a fabulous piano solo, Pop’s At The Hop, which has a great sax solo, and Guillaume’s Pepper Step, which is a fast instrumental in which the artist share center stage with fantastic solos.  These songs are all 200 bpm or over. 

Bring a towel to dry yourself off because you’re gonna want to get close to your sweetheart on So Far Away From Me.  The title is ironic in that you’ll want to be as close to your partner as you can!   

Every song on here is a winner.   Obviously, this is a must for all swingers.   The more I listen to this CD, the more respect I gain for Indigo Swing.  It’s too bad that Johnny Boyd has decided to leave the band.  All the more reason to rush out and buy this CD!! 

Bottom Line:  To buy or not to buy…..BUY right away!!  Here’s how: