Sabertooth Swing Songs of Future Past

Sabertooth Swing
Songs of Future Past
Slammin Media

Sabertooth Swing is a New Orleans jazz band that one might characterize as Neo-traditional or Neo-swing. The members of Sabertooth Swing are Dan Ruch on trumpet and vocals, Alex Canales on saxophone and clarinet, Chris Butcher on trombone, Romain Beauxis on guitar, Spike Perkins on bass, and Robert Montgomery on drums. There are guest appearances from Seth Ballin on saxophone and Ryan Hanseler on piano. This new EP is the result of the band playing a dance in a local juke joint paired with a local blues act. For this occasion, they prepared a setlist of slower tunes with a distinct melancholic air and wanderlust. Apparently, the night was magical and carried forth to the present six-song release.
 

The rhythm section is crisp, and the tempos relaxed, while the solos are concise and well-constructed. Ruch is a capable, energetic vocalist who brings the right, let's have a party feel to these performances. Things start with an inviting "Frankie and Johnny," on which Seth Ballin contributes the saxophone solo. On "How High Is the Ocean," there is a bop-inflected piano solo from Ryan Hanseler before Butcher's steel wool trombone. Butcher's tailgate trombone and Ruch's blistering trumpet open up an imaginative reworking of Tom Waits' "Chocolate Jesus. " There is also a similar traditional jazz recasting of Phish's "Lawn Boy." This song is transformed into an end-of-the-night saloon song, with Canales adding bluesy alto saxophone.

Canales' clarinet is featured on an all-instrumental take of W.C. Handy's "Atlanta Blues," which is the same melody as "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor." It is the final track on an easy to listen to, well played traditional jazz-oriented recording.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here Sabertooth Swing perform "Chocolate Jesus."

The Heavyweights Brass Band This City

The Heavyweights Brass Band
This City
Lulaworld Records

New Orleans Brass Bands has led to a world-wide resurgence of Brass Bands throughout the world. Some remain closer to the roots of their Crescent City inspiration than others. Toronto's Heavyweights bring there own personality to the New Orleans Brass Band sound but they honor their influences with this recording made in New Orleans. The Heavyweights are comprised of John Pittman - Trumpet; Chris Butcher - Trombone; Paul Metcalfe - Tenor Saxophone Tim Richards - Tuba, and Lowell Whitty - Drums with guests including guitarist Kevin Breit and legendary vocalist Jackie Richardson along with bass drum from Joe Lastie of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, baritone saxophone from Roger Lewis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, trumpet from Ashlin Parker of the Ellis Marsalis Quartet, and vocals from Marla W#alters (Dixon) founder of the Shotgun Jazz Band.

Butcher contributed the opening "Hands Down Lo’," with Lastie on bass drum and Parker adding trumpet on a performance that would be at home on early recordings by the Dirty Dozen, and Rebirth Brass Bands. Also sounding like those modern New Orleans Brass Band is the rendition of  Paul Metcalfe's arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good." Richard's "Two Foot Ticket" takes down the tempo and is as much a feature for Breit's bluesy guitar with the horns providing a background. The band's irresistible second line returns with "I've Got Time For You," that features a terrific barreling tuba solo and then searing trumpet from Pittman and saxophone from Metcalfe.

After a short solo baritone saxophone break from Roger Lewis ("Roger's Intro"), the Heavyweights join in for "Dance Out On the Corner," another number that will get the listeners feet moving with Lewis taking a baritone sax solo full of swagger and substance above the insistent groove Richards and Whitty lay down. Pittman and Metcalfe wail on this and Marla Dixon joins the band in their vocals here. Then there is another driving Brass Band number, "Rosco's Big Hit," with Ashlin Parker adding upper register trumpet fireworks.

The Heavyweights close with Steve Earle's homage to post-Katrina New Orleans, "This City," with Jackie Richardson singing "This City won't wash away. This City won't ever drown... ." It is a marvelous performance, even if sounds like something The Band might have recorded as opposed to the partying and street parade of a New Orleans Brass Band. Still there is plenty to party to as well as listen to on this high-spirited and energetic set of modern Brass Band music.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here The Heavyweights Brass Band perform "Just the Two of Us."