Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

26 May, 2014

Contotallyfused-The Indigo Kings

Filed under: jazz,Recorded Reviews,rock n roll,swing — Tags: contotallyfused, new album, the indigo kings — willmunn @ 20:40

 

CONTOTALLYFUSED CD release by The Indigo Kings

 

The Indigo kings are a 6 piece, jazz/swing band from Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, formed in 2011, they consist of Taritha Cole and Caroline Boucher, two harmonising vocalists, sounding not unlike The Andrews Sisters of the 50’s & 60’s. Emma Stone, a talented sax and flute player, with the driving forces of Steve Rich on drums, Carl Ward Brassington on base, and some nice keyboard sounds provided by Martin Howe. ‘Contotallyfused’, which is a bit of a mouthful, was officially launched at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, where the band took to the stage in the Jazz Arena.

The CD opens up with a fast moving ‘Jump Jive Daddy’, tantalising cymbals and Emma’s Sax, feed straight to the ‘period’ harmonising of the girls. If your up for a dance, you would not go far wrong with this swing start. The title track has a good solid rhythmic beat that gets the foot tapping, and a more moderate pace for us older lounge lizards, go for the ‘Champagne’ next, bubbly with peachy notes. ‘All I Wanted’, is a pretty cool jazz riff, with solid bass, and some nice piano coming in. The CD is set up with a mix of songs ranging from the fast paced through to the smooth, slow, late night smooch on the dance floor song. The vocals are of an almost forgotten era, carried along by some excellent musicianship, with some lovely piano coming in to join the boiler room bass and drums, with the layers of sax, drifting in and out. ‘He’ll Get Whats Coming To Him’, has a 50’s blues feel to it, with that sax of Emma’s coming through strongly. Martin’s piano opens another bit of blues with ‘Monkey Business’, with Caroline and Talitha’s vocals playing off each other, worth the cost of the CD in itself. ‘Dr Blues’, brings in a bit of boogie woogie, lube up the joints, and get jiving. The sound of an accordion, and a gypsy jazz groove brings the closing track, ‘When I Turn Out The Lights’, which has also been released as a single.

Overall, a delightful CD for all those that like to get out there and strut their stuff, definitely evokes an era lost in the mist of time, the speakeasy, the ‘debauched’ notes of jazz, and swing. If you cant face the dance floor, put it on at home, push back the carpet, up the volume, sip the champagne (OK a serious glass full) and show that partner that you can still move. Don’t worry, nobody can see through the curtains!

Written By Graham Munn

 

28 April, 2014

The BeauBowBelles-Banger

Filed under: classical,gypsy,pop,Recorded Reviews,swing — Tags: banger, new single, The BeauBowBelles — willmunn @ 19:49

Ok so I admit it, I’ve been fairly useless at keeping upto date with the deluge of CDs that have piled through my letterbox in recent times, so there have been a few that have slipped the net, Banger by The BeauBowBelles is one such release and now on listener to the track, I find myself seriously questioning my work ethics, because (and yes I have a full time job and this site is just a….say it softly…hobby) this two minute fifty single is an absolute beauty.

But before I try to describe the sound of Banger, a little bit about the band, The BeauBowBelles are a four-piece group of instrumentalists hailing from London who blend all manner of genres from gypsy folk to classical, blues and beyond to create a sound that’s retro, nostalgic, unique and above more contagious than the common cold.

Banger is just as the title suggests a real fun banger of a track, there’s a certain gypsy element but there’s also a definite (electro?) swing feel to the song, whilst the harmonies invoke those great female harmony groups of yesteryear or in more recent times the Puppini Sisters only with more instrumentation and whole lot more energy.

The single was taken from an EP called The Moon which I imagine is available now and on the evidence of this track alone is well worth tracking down, I’ll certainly be on the look out for more from the brilliant The BeauBowBelles.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.thebeaubowbelles.com

20 June, 2012

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band-Year Of The Rabbit

Filed under: Blog,jazz,Recorded Reviews,swing — Tags: the original rabbit foot spasm band, year of the rabbit — willmunn @ 21:19

I have something of a love for jazz and swing, I first started my secret affair a number of years back when an acquaintance threw a couple of Blue Note compilations my way, since then I’ve lapped up everything from the likes of Davis, Monk and Coltrane through to Nina Simone, Dr Teeth and beyond. In recent times I devoured the HBO series of Treme where I was exposed to all manner of funky ass sounds and I’ve picked up albums here and there by all manner of artists but apart from a few exceptions (Dr Teeth, etc) there is something of a lack of really decent top notch UK swing bands, who deliver original music without (and here’s the big one) the overbearing presence (and influence) of all things American.

Now sure I understand that beat music, rhythm & blues and jazz has their roots firmly set on the US soil but I want a band that vocally and lyrically negates that tried and tested formula, I want a band that’ll talk of the Cornish riviera as opposed to New Orleans, a band that sing of the Diamond Jubilee, goddamn I want a band like The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm  Band.

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band are a seven-piece beat/swing/jazz/skiffle/blues call it whatever the hell you like Oxford based band that weld together numerous influences from the likes of Count Basie to Sinatra via Jerry Lee Lewis all combined with a firm tongue in cheek, punk like attitude and the gravelly vocals of frontman Stuart Macbeth.

Year Of The Rabbit opens with the groove-laden, trumpet led Cornish Riviera Express, instantly setting the mood for the album with a tight combination of horn, guitar and deep, down and dirty bass all topped off with a like gravelly vocal and a hook so big it could ground the entire US navy. As opening statements go Cornish Riviera Express is pretty damn faultless, it’s fun, infectious and full of groove.

From such an impressive opening gambit, the band continue to dazzle with the jazz meets traditional sea shanty classic in the making, PIRATES!, a delightful number that see’s the band literally frigging in the rigging as they create the first bonafide Sea-bound Swing classic. If I Had A House see’s lead singer Stuart Macbeth deliver his best Sinatra (or is it Richard Cheese, either way it’s delicious) croon as the band deliver a fine take on the big band genre with passion, class and sharp razor wit.

From here on in The Original Rabbit Foot Spams Band deliver a masterclass in blustery jazz swing infused with addictive rhythm and blues, blazing horns and galloping double bass, with highlights coming thick and fast. Lonely Record Shop and Shanghai Fanny are glorious upbeat, boisterous numbers with the former featuring sax and trumpet battling it out for supremacy, whilst the latter brings to mind prime-time Louis Prima or perhaps even Fats Waller.

Year Of The Rabbit is a damn addictive ride from start to finish, sure the band take you to places you jazz/swing lovers  already know and love, but the scenery has never been this vivid, fun and full of life before, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band offer up a unique, buoyant (and British) take on a classic style that should have jazz and big band lovers rolling in the aisles.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://www.rabbitfootspasmband.co.uk/

www.rabbitjazz.co.uk

 

 

22 July, 2011

Eric Ness-All The Things You Are

Filed under: folk,jazz,pop,Recorded Reviews,rock,swing — willmunn @ 14:19

Eric Ness, originally hailing from Norway is something a new name on the singer-songwriter scene, back in his native country he began his musical journey with with traditional folk songs that he learnt from a young age, from those humble beginnings Eric began developing his own sound upbeat pop, rock and jazz to his folky roots and his music soon found favour across his homeland and Europe. Eric has sice relocated to Camden and having recently supported the likes of Ed Sheeran and Django Django in his adopted city of London, he’s now ready to release his debut single, All The Things You Are to the waiting world.

All The Things You Are, takes those aforementioned infuences of folk, pop, rock, jazz and swing, plonks them all into a big cauldron, turns up the heat and stirs vigourously to create a delicious upbeat bouncy slab of pop gold. The track opens with a bunch of swinging horns, an addictive bass line and a tasty bit of piano before Eric unleashes his contagious pop rock vocals to dazzling effect, the song has a massive hook that you can’t help humming along, whilst the chorus is a glorious geniune sing-a-long moment that’s just impossible to deny.

All The Things You Are is backed by two equally brilliant tracks that prove Eric is no one trick pony, Valentine showcases the stunning vocal capabilities of Eric, as he effortlessly moves between gravelly blues rocker and falsetto diva on yet another catchy high energy pop rocker, whilst Supah Glue is a sun kissed, laidback groover that sees Eric find his inner crooner and deliver a finger snapping summer anthem with ease.

As debuts go All The Things You Are is an absolute peach, a highly infictious single that’s just perfect for daytime radio and late night gigs alike. On the evidence of the three tracks on here Eric Ness is set to be a household name in no time at all.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.myspace.com/ericsbandofficial

 

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