Hot Texas Swing Band is Off the Beaten Trail

Hot Texas Swing Band
Off the Beaten Trail
Indie 1701

A modern, jazzy updating of the classic Bob Wills and more recent Asleep at the Wheel, the Hot Texas Swing Band is comprised of leader Alex Dormont- Vocals and Upright Bass, Selena Rosanbalm- Vocals, Liz Morphis- Vocals, Cat Clemons- Guitar, Ileana Nina- Fiddle, Stephen Bidwell- Drums, Joey Colarusso- Sax, Jimmy Shortell- Trumpet, Dave Biller- Steel Guitar, Dan Walton- Piano.

The opening title track, with Dormont's baritone, comes off a classic Texas Swing styled number (slightly evocative of Ernest Tubb) with the horns a bit more upfront in the backing. Selena sings the bouncy "I Hear You Talkin'" while Liz takes the brisk "How Do I Not." Both of the women are expressive singers displaying engaging intonation while cleanly articulating the lyrics.  Backing them, the horns solo strongly in a modern vein. Dormont's baritone is heard on the a nicely played waltz, "Headed Back To The Barn," with a unison horn break. The band's versatility is heard behind Liz on a latin jazz flavored "This Time," followed by Dormont on the rollicking "Texas Plains," and then Liz on the country-boogie, "Cow Cow Boogie," that originally recorded by Freddie Slack,

There is an enjoyable Dormont original honky tonk romp s"Snow in Amarillo," with a booting sax solo, scintillating steel guitar and guitar that sounds like something Spade Colley could have done. Selena is outstanding in a Julie London vein on "Cry Me a River," with outstanding fretwork by Clemons, while "Bull Whip" is a bright instrumental that allows all to strut their playing. It is followed by Liz's charming singing on "Baton Rouge Waltz," with accordion and fiddle in the backing. Horns, rockabilly guitar and booting tenor sax, give George Jones' "White Lightnin'" a fresh take.

The album closes with another delightful waltz, "My Blue Guitar." This is their 4th CD, and the lively, fun performances shows why they are so popular among contemporary Western Swing enthusiasts. Well played, sung with heart, the engaging performances here should entertain roots music lovers.

I received my review copy from a  publicist. This review originally appeared in the March-April 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 377). This is available at usual sources but also from their Bandcamp page, https://hottexasswingband.bandcamp.com/releases. Here is the Hot Texas Swing Band performing a Western Swing classic, "Miles and iles of Texas"

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20080625-2008_Smithsonian_Folklife_Festival-1085
Originally uploaded by NoVARon

Texas, along with Bhutan and NASA (yes NASA) are featured at the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which is held on the National Mall between Congress and the Washington Monument. A wide range of Texas music is featured including country and swing from the likes of Guy Clark and Jody Nix and The Texas Cowboys, Conjuncto from accordionist Mingo Saldivar, gospel from the Jones Family singers, zydeco from C.J. Chenier and older creole style music from Les Amis Creole, Augie Myers, Joe Ely, blues from Texas Johnny Brown (this week thru June 29) and Tutu Jones (next week July 2 through July 6). Also appearing will be Marcia Ball and Tutu Jones. There are two main stages for music at the Texas Exhibit, the Texas Opry House and the Texas Music Hall. It is this latter stage at which I caught Texas Johnny Brown performing today. Brown, who turned 80 in February, remains vigorous and was terrific with his urbane modern blues. He first recorded nearly 60 years ago, toured with Amos Milburn, Junior Parker, wrote Bobby Bland's "Two Steps From the Blues." Roger Wood, author of the essential books on Houston blues and Texas Zydeco was a presenter.