CD Review: Hot Club of Cowtown - Rendezvous in Rhythm

Elana James (fiddle/vcl); Whit Smith (gtr/vcl); Jake Erwin (bs).

(Review by Lance).

Coming hot on the heels of last night's concert at The Sage this CD  is  an  item to savour, not least because, for me, it displays their  jazz   side  -  Gypsy  Jazz  that is - as  opposed  to  their Western Swing. The evocation of the 1920's and  1930's  is  all around  and  there  is  the  mystical  presence  of  Django   and Stephane hovering above the speakers like guardian angels.

Add  the   engaging vocals  of James and  Smith  and  you  are transported to Montmartre or a café on the left bank. That they are three Americans singing in English doesn't take the ambience away if anything it enhances it. 

Elena swings like crazy - fiddling while Jake burns it up on slap. Whit knows his way around the fretboard fitting easily into the genre showing respect without imitation

When Elana sang I'd Like to Get You on a Slow Boat to China I was on the phone to Thomas Cook before the track was over! Sadly, they didn't have any boats, fast or slow, going to China today.

Tracks: Dark Eyes, I'm in the Mood for Love (vcl WS), Crazy Rhythm (vcl EJ), Avalon (vcl WS), If I Had You (vcl EJ), The Continental (vcl WS), Minor Swing, Melancholy Baby (vcl EJ), I'm Confessin', Sweet Sue (WS), Slow Boat to China (vcl EJ), Sunshine of Your Smile, Back in Your Own Backyard (vclEJ), Douce Ambience.

Hot Club of Cowtown - Rendezvous in Rhythm is available from www.raucousrecords.com - highly recommended for hot club devotees or those who like their melodies to go with a swing.

Lance.