Five years is a long time between albums. Yes it has been five years since Tyneside's viper jazz group released The New Lowdown. With Mazurka in Jazz, apart from a couple of changes of personnel it's the same band - or is it? The material, mainly original, covers a wider scope than the previous album - sometimes related to real life.
Elise Hopper puts emotion into a song softly, gently and with feeling whether it's joy or sadness she nails it. Queen Witch is a complex arrangement with trombone adding substance to Elise's mystical vocal, Superhero relates to one of Elise's awesome kids. Banjo and violin give the chart an extra input.
As always, Michael Littlefield is involved and Should we Dance? had me wanting to do exactly that. Great vocal, hoedown guitar and, among others, down home trumpet. Double Rations brings Elise back for a piece built around a fantasy polyamorous relationship with the men on porridge boxes! Tanton blows a chorus showing that he knows his oats.
Jelly Roll Morton's Why?, one of two non-originals, has vocal by Michael, clarinet by Keith, trumpet by Pete and a restrained trombone solo by Showtime. Ice Cream For Breakfast is a happy song sung by Elise with backing vocals from the band, swing violin from Katja, trumpet by Pete, tenor by Keith and all with that 1930s' swing feel. Little wonder that the swing dancers love this band!
After an opening riff from Broadway, Michael sings and plays You're Driving me Crazy leaning towards the Big Joe Turner version rather than that of the Temperance Seven - a wise decision. However it doesn't end there, Elise counters with a self-penned verse of her own! Tenor, trumpet and Broadway take it out.
Sorry You're Gone. After Elise's heartfelt vocal we hear from the horns, some honky-tonk piano and a brief burst on sousa. Suit of Roses. One of those will he? won't he? come back to me songs that, despite the sad and worried apprehension of the singer, moves merrily along.
A slow and bluesy Lowdown has piano and guitar giving Elise a shoulder to cry on.
Is there a better band in the world working this side of the street? If there is or if there ain't there can't be many. Maybe a corner bar in Chicago or a joint in Kansas City has a better band - maybe, I'm not holding my breath...
There's an album launch at Pilgrim on March 29 where you can see the band live and listen or dance or just chill out. Doors open at 4:00pm. Lance
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