Russell's first live recording and where better to make that debut than Lincoln Center? NYC's cultural home. For this concert Russell crafted a programme honouring the Hot Club of New York, a community of enthusiasts who meet weekly to listen to jazz and blues on 78rpm shellac records. I think that's rather wonderful and, unsurprisingly so does Catherine as no doubt her father's records (Luis Russell and his Orchestra) will often be amongst those played.
Ted Koehler's Now You're Talkin' my Language gets the set underway. A swinging romp with short solos by the horns alongside Catherine's raunchy vocal. Tiny Grimes gets the composer credit for Never Too Old to Swing. Some tricky footwork by Lerman, Kellso blows trumpet and les tout ensemble merge, with Merman for a punchy ride home.
'Ram' Ramirez, he of Lover Man fame, provided I Just Refuse to Sing the Blues. Caatherine defies the song's title and does exactly that. Some nice blues tenor from Arntzen, likewise Allred on trumpet and more heartache from Catherine. Jeeter Pillars' I Like Pie, I Like Cake has more hoofing and a double-entendre lyric. Those
blues guys sure had a way with words.
You Ain't Livin' Right. Name check for composer Blanche Calloway at the end of this jump number. This is such a tight band and Catherine suits them perfectly - and vice versa. Long About Midnight by Alex Hill and Irving Mills whose contribution was probably the manuscript paper. Solos by Paterson, Allred and Munisteri. Renowned jazz critic, author and composer of Keep Your Mind on me, Leonard Feather, would have been delighted at this interpretation of his blues number. Apart from the earthy vocal there's solos by trombone, clarinet and some half valve shenanigans by Jon-Erik Kellso.
An up tempo blast on Old Man River may seem a strange choice but it works! Jon-Erik blows the solo of the night. There's a Dixie style ensemble that brought the house down. More tap dancing on Eddie Barefield's F'Taint One Thing It's Another - cute. You Can't Pull the Wool Over my Eyes from Messrs Ager, Newman and Mencher is another nice, easy swing. Everybody Loves my Baby opens with voice, bass and dancing. A masterpiece of laid back swing. Bass, dancer and singer in an absolutely perfect three in a bed musical menage.
A beautiful album - highly recommended. Lance
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