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Space-Age, Latin, Exotica,
Balladiers, and Las Vegas Lounge. Music for an
atomic age! >November 12, 2004
I will try not to gush, but I warn you, I can't help myself.
Big T and the Bada-Bings has joined The Green Lounge's playlist and will be in heavy rotation starting today.
This is how our listening session went:
I asked if we could listen to some of the new CD's I had been sent from independent labels and got the 'Oh God' look from my partner. We started playing the compilation album, "Born To Be Wild", and after every single cut, we would look at each other and say, "These guys are really good."
"Born To Be Wild" is probably one of the best new CD's that has been sent to me in quite some time. Craig Thompson is "Big T" and the vocalist of this hard to define big band ensemble. As you begin listening to the album, you think you have his vocal style nailed down, when the next track sidetracks you again and yet again with each passing track. Mr. Thompson's song stylings are all over the map and fortunately for us listeners, he is able to cover such a wide array of musical styles with such greatness that he is not easily pidgeon-holed.
He can cut a rug in the "Louis Prima" genre with songs like "Caldonia" and "Buona Sera"; he can soothe us with lovingly-phrased standards such as "Since I Fell For You" and "Girl From Ipanema" a la "Tony Bennett"; and he can torch us with his blues renditions of "Pride and Joy", "Dance With Me" and "Let The Good Times Roll" in the panache style of "Stevie Ray Vaughn." But he is none of these people - he truly makes these standards and well-known songs his own.
After listening to this very balanced compilation, I very much wanted to be a part of the audience evidenced on the last two tracks. I bet these guys put on an incredible live show.
The backing band, "The Bada-Bings", are excellent in their tone and style and compliment Craig's vocals with aplomb. This is a good band to be backed-up by, with arrangements that re-energize these standards for repeated listening. The production values of the recordings, themselves, are clean, crisp and very well engineered.
I say "Run - Don't Walk" to pick up this very exciting CD that has crossed my path. It will become a part of my permanent collection and I can't wait to listen to it again and again and again....
You can purchase and find out more about this group at www.bigt-music.com.
I give these 6 Martini's out of a possible 4. Thank you Craig for sending this my way.
Bottoms Up!!
Steve
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November 02, 2004
Boulevard East is Beth Covell, Christopher Howatt and Dana Merritt. This trio is a delightful addition to our playlist with a style that is best described as true cabaret in its scope. Although the album is peppered with accomplished solo work, the vocal stylings of this very polished group are at their best when they are singing these classic standards on their release "Timeless" as a Trio - their blend is so well-matched that it begs the listener to try and distinguish just who is who. The album has lovely renditions of "Over The Rainbow" and "Orange Colored Sky", as well as some well-thought through medleys and salutes to such greats as Hoagy Carmichael and Rodgers and Hart. All of this paired with the piano arrangements of Christopher Howatt make this a very enjoyable album and delightful addition to our playlist.
Grab your favorite cordial and sit back and enjoy this album in heavy rotation for the next couple of weeks on the Green Lounge.
Feel Free to comment below and visit their website at www.boulevardeastproductions.com for upcoming dates and CD purchase information.
Cheers to Boulevard East!!
Also added this week, Tony Bennett's "Songs For The Jet Set", Shirley Bassey's "A Touch Of Class", and a re-scan and reintroduction of the Jackie Gleason compliation - "The Romantic Moods of Jackie Gleason" (song titles have been fixed).
As always,
Bottoms Up!!
Steve
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