Texas Swing

When Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown walked into the studio in the early '80s to record Alright Again!, he had already had an illustrious career by most standards. Yet, much of Gate's best output had been behind him by more than two decades; with Alright Again!, he set out to prove he was still a relevant artist. The album won Brown a Grammy, and its follow-up, One More Mile, was a Grammy-nominated record as well. Texas Swing combines the two records, culling 17 tracks from the sessions. Listening to this album, it is easy to see why the songs had such impact. Never one to be pigeonholed, Brown and his backup band move from slick blues on "Frosty" and "One More Mile" to breezy swing reminiscent of the best big bands on Roy Milton's "Information Blues" and Brown's own "Dollar Got the Blues"…

The Award winning Texas Gypsies compose and perform original and classic music influenced by the Vintage Jazzy Swingin cool hep cat sounds of the 20's-30's, along with a taste of it's sister sound, Western Swing, and a mix of Gypsy Jazz magic sprinkled over the top! The band mixes passionate violin, heartfelt vocals, a blazing horn section, rocking swingin guitars, slappin upright bass, virtuoso clarinet, and retro style drumming to harmoniously create their own unique, fun and artistic sound! This new CD's has many new and fresh sounding originals such as the Jump Blues/Rockabilly influence "Retro Deco Baby", the Vintage but almost pop like "Lights Up The Sun" and the Western style tribute to Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt track "DjangoBob"…

Asleep At The Wheel - Tribute To The Music of Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys (1993) {Liberty CDP-0777-7-81470-2-2}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 354 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 134 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 72 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1993 Liberty Records / Pearl Records | CDP-0777-7-81470-2-2
Swing / Country / Contemporary Country / Western Swing

Ray Benson's Asleep At The Wheel deserve admiration for keeping alive the sounds of western swing, but with a rhythm section that's usually straight-up-and-down stiff, The Wheel's recordings mainly just leave you craving their inspirations. The 18-song Tribute overcomes this problem by loading up on singers who do their best to swing even when the band doesn't. George Strait, doing "Big Balls In Cowtown," is a natural, of course, as are the offerings from Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett and Dolly Parton. Even Garth Brooks' go at "Deep Water," who mimics Strait to perfection here, is a pleasant surprise.

What more can you ask for? Asleep at the Wheel playing on Austin City Limits running through a smoking program of rocking, strolling Western swing tunes – with special guests like Eldon Shamblin, Johnny Gimble, Leon Rausch, and Herb Remington no less. Asleep at the Wheel have performed on Austin City Limits numerous times – including the very first broadcast program back in 1976 – but this show, recorded gorgeously from 1992, is special. The bandmembers are so relaxed, open, and in the groove here that this stands out among their live recordings. It's true that the program is familiar, full of favorites and legendary swing tunes, though "Boot Scoot Boogie" by Brooks & Dunn's Ronnie Dunn is also here. Some of the standouts include "Roly Poly," "Corrine, Corrina," "Blues for Dixie," and the closing read of the Cindy Walker/Bob Wills tune "Sugar Moon."

Many improvisers would agree that having the feeling of the blues is a crucial part of jazz expression; however, the jazz and blues worlds don't interact nearly as often as they should. There are jazz musicians who will play Miles Davis' "All Blues" or Charlie Parker's "Parker's Mood" on a regular basis but wouldn't know John Lee Hooker from Little Milton; there are blues artists who are much more likely to work with a rock musician than a jazz musician. So it is a rare treat to hear a blues-oriented guitarist and a jazz-oriented guitarist co-leading a session, which is exactly what happens on More Conversations in Swing Guitar. This 2003 release is a sequel to bluesman Duke Robillard and jazzman Herb Ellis' 1999 encounter Conversations in Swing Guitar, and the CD proves that good things can happen when jazz and blues players interact. More Conversations in Swing Guitar is an album of very blues-minded instrumental jazz – it's hardly a carbon copy of Robillard's work with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, but the bluesman has no problem appearing in a jazz-oriented setting.

Johnny Copeland's eclectic nature is on display on Jungle Swing, an ambitious collaboration with jazz pianist Randy Weston. Weston brings a selection of African rhythms and melodic textures to the table, which are incorporated subtly into the rhythmic underpinnings of each song. In no sense is Jungle Swing a worldbeat experiment – it's just a small, affectionate tribute. Even so, the African flourishes don't dominate the sound of the record. Like always, Copeland takes center stage with his clean, precise licks. At this point in his career, he knows exactly what to play and the guitarist never overplays throughout the course of the disc. There are a few weak moments on the disc, but the sheer strength of Copeland's musicianship – and his willingness to stretch out ever so slightly – make it worth the time for any of his fans.

This single CD from the European Classics label collects all of pianist Sammy Price's prewar recordings as a leader. Despite its title, only two titles preceded the 1940-41 period: "Blue Rhythm Stomp" by Price's Four Quarters in 1929, and "Nasty But Nice," which finds Price on the same day accompanying trombonist Bert Johnson. Otherwise, the music features Price's Texas Blusicians, New York-based septets and octets put together especially for recordings. The emphasis is on blues, with Price taking several vocals, but such notable guests as altoist Don Stovall, trumpeters Shad Collins and Emmett Berry and (on four songs) tenor great Lester Young uplift the music. Recommended to small-group swing collectors.