Pete Horsfall (tpt/vcl); Ewan Bleach (clt/sax); Malcolm Earle-Smith (tmb); Colin Good (pno); Martin Wheatley (gtr/bjo); Dave O'Brien (bs); Mez Clough (dms).
(Review by Lance).
A breath of fresh air might seem to be a strange description of a band playing music from the early part of the last century but after so many 'boundary bursting' CDs of angry young men seeking to extend the jazz horizons it's nice to wallow in the ambience of good tunes played by young(ish) musicians with a melodic flare to their improvisations.
Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against progress and I appreciate the need for young musicians to look to the future. However, it isn't always a journey I want to take with them.
The Basin Street Brawlers do their battling with velvet gloves rather than bare knuckles pickled in vinegar which makes for a relaxed atmosphere. Influenced by bands such as the Louis Armstrong All-Stars, Eddie Condon, Jack Teagarden and Alex Welsh they remind us of that golden era. Close your eyes and you could be in Jimmy Ryan's, Eddie Condon's or even Cook's Ferry Inn.
I wouldn't be so bold as to make comparisions with the originals - neither would the band I'm sure - but, nevertheless, this is still a fine disc well capable of standing on its own 14 feet.
Tracks: If Dreams Come True; Just One of Those Things; If Only You Knew; All My Life; How am I to Know; Stars Fell on Alabama; Once in While; It's Tight Like That and Swing That Music.
The disc starts and ends (almost) with A Smoooth One interspersed with introductory remarks by one Natty Bo. There's also a delightful bonus track in the form of Strayhorn's Lotus Blossom. If Only You Knew is an original by Horsfall well worthy of entering 'The Repertoire'.
The Brawlers can be heard in London at Wilton's Music Hall, The Nightjar and The Blues Kitchen. there are also a couple of CD Launch Parties set up:-
May 15: The Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room.
June 8: London Swing Festival @ Bishopgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Basin Street Brawlers - It's Tight Like That is a limited edition CD with only 500 available.
Lance.
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