JIMMY AND THE SWINGERS
J.K. Productions JKP003CD
TEL. (815)562-4553
www.jimkanas.com OR www.cdbaby.com/kanas
jimkanas@jimkanas.com
Playing Time 49:04
1. all of me, 2. autumn leaves, 3. bye bye blues, 4. swan quarter,
5. remember me, 6. honeysuckle rose, 7. BaBoo's blues, 8. lullaby
in birdland, 9. moonlight in vermont, 10. cherokee, 11. after you've
gone
What a pleasant swingy surprise! Although
they stick mainly to standards, Jimmy and the Swingers breathe new
life into them with tastefully rendered arrangements characterized
by unique interpretive twists. Six of the eleven cuts span over
five minutes each, and some move into new and enchanting acoustic
territory. I was left questioning their 90-second atmospheric improvisation
that concludes “All of Me,” but I truly enjoyed all
of their renditions. Jim Kanas hails from DeKalb, Il. and is a consummate
veteran jazz guitarist. Grammy nominee Don Stiernberg continues
as among my favorite jazz mandolinists. Randy Sabien does some especially
fine and creative bow work on this project. He has played on Austin
City Limits and A Prairie Home Companion. A very solid low end is
cemented by bassist Larry Gray who also plays with Ramsey Lewis.
Engineer Steve Yates also deserves kudos for capturing the quartet’s
musical chemistry in a masterful way. You can learn more about the
players and CD at www.jimkanas.com/record.html
Two Jim Kanas originals, “Swan Quarter” and “BabBoo’s
Blues,” appear at tracks four and seven, respectively. The
former is leisurely played to a slow bossa rhythm that allows each
musician to fully explore the melody’s mood. Stiernberg’s
tremolo paints a picture of imagery which had me daydreaming about
sipping wine at a sidewalk café on a warm, summer day. Measure
after measure, their music is simply a true joy of life! In music,
as in life, playing the changes can be challenging. Jimmy and the
Swingers embrace it, and these chordmasters navigate without ever
getting lost or disoriented on challenging pieces like “Baboo’s
Blues.” The result, with its abundant reward, is a spiritual
and emotional depth to their music. Joe Pass would be proud of them.
Jim Kanas is a highly-acclaimed, award-winning guitarist who has
studied classical music and jazz improvisation, although he’s
also played bluegrass, folk and traditional music. Few know that
the multi-instrumentalist can also expertly play pedal steel guitar,
fiddle, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, dobro and sing. His unique interdisciplinary
performance degree program at Northern Illinois University
emphasized contemporary guitar, commercial music and American folk
instruments. He performs and records as a soloist, with the Jim
Kanas Trio (folk, bluegrass, western swing), and with the Jim Kanas
Jazz Quartet. He is in a PPS feature (WTTW11-Chicago PPS) “Arts
Across Illinois” which has aired many times.
This album project was partially funded by a grant from the Illinois
Arts Council, which also sponsors Kanas as an artist-in-resident
and touring roster member. His collaboration with Stiernberg, Sabien
and Gray is a special one. These professionals are competent and
committed to excellence. I sense that they’re also very passionate
about what they do. Jimmy and the Swingers follow their vision and
establish a wonderful groove. (Joe Ross)
Joe Ross
staff writer, Bluegrass Now |