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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."
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