Whispering Grass - Stompy Jones
Stompy
Jones – Stompy Jones
2003 Jewel Records
SQ Issue: Summer 2005, Volume 15, Issue 3
The Band:
Vocal: Peter “Pops” Walsh; Bass & Vocal: “Little David” Rose; Drums & Vocal: Bowen Brown; Piano:
Scott Lawrence; Trumpet & Vocal: Tim
“Happy” Hyland; Saxophone & Vocal: Jeff
“Erv” Ervin
“In this
latest self-titled gem from Jewel Records, Stompy Jones continues to revisit the sounds
and rhythms of the 1930's through the early 1950's, from Fletcher Henderson, Earl Hines,
John Kirby, through Louis Jordan, Roy Milton, and Louis Prima, as well as six inspired
cuts of their own. ---
Stompy Jones website.
The boys have kept up their tradition
of high quality CDs. Just like The Swing
Session and Whispering Grass (both of which should be in your CD library!) this
CD is packed with great, danceable tunes that are light and happy.
Some tunes you’ll recognize such
as Knock Me a Kiss and Whistle Stop, covers of Louis Jordan and Louis Prima
respectively. More savvy jazz enthusiasts
may recognize some of the other tunes but to those of you who just like the music and
don’t know the titles, you’ll find yourself dancing to recognizable melodies. Some of my favorites include Oh Marie, Dream,
and the slower tune Without You Here. Each
of these, as well as the rest of the songs on the CD, have excellent musicianship. The band is tight and swings the whole CD through.
Tempos range from slower numbers like Without
You Here, beginning at 63 bpm to the blazing Juke Box Judy clocking in at 258
bpm. The rest of the songs are sandwiched in
between and are great for Lindy Hoppers.
If you don’t mind the slower
songs, this CD comes close to what I call a perfect CD.
That’s when you can put the CD in and each song is danceable and fun
and you don’t have to take it out until it’s over! Then you just might want to play it again!
I think you’ll be pleased with
this CD and highly suggest you add it to your swing library.
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy….. BUY! Here’s how:
The Swing Session
Whispering
Grass
2001
Jewel Records
The Swing Session is:
Peter
“Pops” Walsh – vocal; “Little David” Rose – bass &
vocal; Bowen Brown – drums & vocal; Scott Lawrence – piano; Tim
“Happy” Hyland – trumpet & vocal; Jeff “Erv” Ervin –
saxophone & vocal
With their vintage attire and
romping small-band swing, these fellas have injected a healthy dose of "Central
Avenue" inspired Rhythm & Blues into the current swing scene. Little David's
thumpin' stand-up bass, Bowen Brown's swinging double-shuffle drumming and the rolling
boogie-woogie piano of Scott Lawrence provide the foundation. Riffing on top is Tim Hyland
on trumpet and Jeff "Erv" Ervin on tenor and alto saxophone. Together these two
highly respected "take-off men" create the fireworks of vintage jazz.
– The Swing Session Website
This is the follow up CD to their
self-titled debut CD, The Swing Session. Building
on the success of their first CD, The Swing Session has outdone themselves. They have created a great dancer’s CD with
countless songs “in the pocket.” Alright,
you can count them but you know what I mean!
Whispering Grass is loaded with
fantastic sax licks reminiscent of the great ‘50s jump blues bands. However, the excellent musicians on piano,
trumpet, bass and drums find themselves plenty of room to shine as well. These guys work magic together whether harmonizing
on their instruments or with their well blended vocals.
Highlights on the CD are numerous. My personal favorites are I Feel That Old Age
Coming On, Katy Did, Give and Take and After All I’ve Been to
You. This by far is a short list because
there are great gems throughout the entire album. One
other worth a mention is White Cliffs of Dover.
This song is usually a love song from the WWII era sung by the torch singers
and divas of the day, dreaming of when their guy comes home. The Swing Session get it swingin’ without
losing the great story.
Several of their songs have a Louis
Prima feel and even use the famous Prima tags on the beginning and end of them. You’ll find it in the beginning of After
All I’ve Been to You and at the end of White Cliffs of Dover.
This CD is another one of those gems
that any swing dancer is going to want in their collection.
It is a veritable push play and dance type of CD. I can’t imagine anyone who can tap their toes
in rhythm not liking this CD. Go buy it.
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy….. BUY THIS ONE! If you do, here’s how: