Mitch Woods and His
Rocket 88’s Jump for Joy!
2001 Blind Pig Records
SQ Issue: Summer 2001, Volume 11, Issue 3
Mitch Woods and His
Rocket 88’s
Jump for Joy!
2001 Blind Pig Records
SQ Issue: Summer
2001, Volume 11, Issue 3
The Rocket 88’sare:
Mitch Woods – vocals and piano; Jeff Ervin – tenor and alto sax; Michael
“Downtown” Brown – tenor sax; Micael Peloquin – tenor and baritone sax
and horn arrangements; Danny Bittker – baritone and tenor sax; Eric Addeo –
drums; James Henry – congas and percussion; Mike Whitwell – trumpet; Tim Hyland
– trumpet; Mike Rinto – trombone; Danny Caron – guitar; Joe “Roll
‘em” Kyle – upright bass; Roberta Donnay – background vocals.
Jump blues, rock-a-boogie – call it what you like, blues fans and piano lovers will “Jump for Joy” over the new release….Mitch Woods has gone the limit, writing sassy boogie tunes and crafting smooth arrangements that evoke the heyday of the dancehall Forties. – press release.
Mitch Woods’ new CD will please jump blues fans as well as classic big band fans and every fan of swing. This offering from the boogie woogie piano master has something for everyone but is primarily jump blues with a big band flavoring.
Woods jumps out of the gate with Jump in the Groove and Go, a high speed, fun tune that says, “Let’s party!” After this rocket, Woods settles into a great danceable line-up featuring original songs guaranteed to keep you dancing. Swingin’ at the Savoy is a great ensemble piece that is highlighted by Woods’ gritty vocals and a great solo relay featuring the drums, bass and guitar.
Woods is unselfish on Easy Street, Golden Gate Jump, and Straight Eight, holding back on keys and giving the sax section plenty of room to shine, which they more than do.
Being a fan of Woods’ piano work, I must wait patiently through his selflessness to get to great gems like Jive, Mr. Boogie, Walk Across Texas and Jump for Joy.
His influences include Louis Jordan, which especially shows in Easy Street, and more recently, Cab Calloway, which is prevelant in Golden Gate Jump. I would gather by Broke, that Woods may be influenced by legendary bluesman, George Thorogood as well. Broke reminds me of a swingin’ version of Thorogood’s One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer without it being a carbon copy ripoff.
Woods put together a top-notch band and utilizes it to create his best work to date. This CD is a must for all dancers and jump blues lovers alike. You won’t be disappointed if you add this one to your collection!
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy…..BUY. If you do, here’s how: