Blue Swing by Dan Barrett & Blue Swing featuring Rebecca Kilgore

10 May

Written by Richard Bourcier
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Any new offerings by Dan Barrett are always welcome, especially when they feature the fine voice of Rebecca Kilgore. This new CD is a compilation of old and new standards and a few obscurities such as Rube Bloom & Ted Koehler’s "I Can’t Face The Music". Although not the most outstanding of jazz singers, Rebecca Kilgore has warmth, presence and the ability to turn her audience into life-long fans. It certainly worked for me.

Leader Dan Barrett is capable of rendering heartfelt trombone solos in any number of jazz styles from "big band" to good old "tailgate and gutbucket." Dan sticks with the trombone on this presentation but is also a fine cornet player to boot and a veteran of the bands of Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and Joe Bushkin.

The octet and vocalist perform in fine fashion on 14 tunes including Victory Stride, I Never Knew, Saturday Night Function, Saratoga Strut and surprising versions of Love Potion #9 and Wedding Bell Blues. You’ll be touched by all the soloists and by Barrett’s great arrangements. The vocal duet of Kilgore and Erikson on "C’est Si Bon" is both original and funny.

This band has the ability to swing with the best of them.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Dan Barrett & Blue Swing featuring Rebecca Kilgore
CD Title: Blue Swing
Genre: Big Band / Swing
Year Released: 2000
Record Label: Arbors Records
Tracks: I Can’t Face The Music, Victory Stride, I Never Knew, Saturday Night Function, Saratoga Strut, Love Potion #9, Wedding Bell Blues, C’est Si Bon
Musicians: Dan Barrett (trombone); Jan-Erik Kellso (trumpet); Brian Ogilvie (clarinet/tenor sax); John Smith (soprano/alto sax); Eddie Erikson (guitar/banjo & vocal on track 11); Joel Forbes (bass); Ray Sherman (piano); Jeff Hamilton (drums); Rebecca Kilgore (vocals).
Label Website: http://www.arborsjazz.com
Rating: Five Stars