Swingadelic: “Bluesville” (2020) CD Review

If you are feeling down, angry or lost, some swinging jazz might be just the thing to shake you out of those blues. And on Swingadelic’s new release, Bluesville, the group dives into some classic blues material, including compositions by Willie Dixon, Ray Charles and Mose Allison. There are also a couple of original compositions, written by bass player Dave Post. This New Jersey band can deliver the goods, as is clear on each album these folks put out. This one follows their 2017 release Mercerville, a tribute to the music of Johnny Mercer. The new release is some delicious big band blues.

The album gets off to a lively start with “The Late Late Show,” that glorious big band sound immediately raising my spirits and pushing away the miseries of the world. This is a celebration in a club where troubles are left at the door, and the music goes on and on, late into the night, and maybe there are no windows, and the days come and go, and we’re still dancing, still swinging, still drinking. Let it all fall to rubble outside, as long as the music continues. This track features a wonderful lead on trumpet. The band gets more deeply into the blues with a groovy rendition of Willie Dixon’s “I Love The Life I Live.” It’s blues, but oh so positive, and features a cool and smooth vocal performance. And I love that work on keys. This is a totally enjoyable rendition. But things get even better with the band’s rendition of “Harlem Nocturne,” which is deliciously cool. I love the way this song at first struts around in the half-light. Then, with a certain glance, it causes the lights to suddenly burst into brilliance, and the alley becomes a dance floor. This is one of my personal favorite tracks.

The piano sets things in motion for a good version of Ray Charles’ “Mary Ann,” featuring a seriously fun vocal performance. “Oh, Mary Ann, you look so fine/Let me tell you, baby/I could love you all the time.” This track includes an excellent lead on trombone, and then some nice work on electric guitar, while the piano keeps that groove steady. That’s followed by “What’s Your Story, Morning Glory.” Vanessa Perea does such a great job on vocals here, rivaling the Ella Fitzgerald version. This is another cool number, featuring great leads on saxophone and trumpet. You’re going to want to dress up while listening to this track, and turn your home into a night club that caters to all the right people. The band then delivers a hopping rendition of “Parchman Farm” that is just absolutely delightful, featuring Mitch Woods on vocals and piano. This music is hitting the spot, you know? And I’m just glad to know I still have a spot after all the craziness in the world. Sometimes it becomes too much, and we wonder if the troubles haven’t fundamentally changed us in some way, killed something inside of us. Well, if you feel that way, put this album on, and that thing inside you will be instantly revived. After the lines about shooting his wife, this version has a spoken word section. “Take my advice, you’ve got to love one another/Don’t wind up on Parchman Farm.”

Another highlight is the enjoyable rendition of “Lonely Avenue,” featuring another good vocal performance by John Bauers. “And my pillow, it feels like stone/Well, I tossed and turned every night/I’m not used to being alone.” Ah, when you’re feeling lonely, the best companion is a saxophone to tell the world just how you’re doing, and here we get a great lead on sax, followed by some wonderful stuff on keys. That’s followed by “El Blues Esa Mujer,” the album’s first original number, composed by Dave Post. It is a light and fun instrumental tune with a catchy rhythm. Then Vanessa Perea delivers a sexy and powerful vocal performance on “I Don’t Know.” The music has a sly quality, moving like a cat. There is a cool lead on guitar, and I love the work from the horn section. Things are really moving on “Riff’n On McGriff’n,” the album’s other original number, written by guitarist Andy Riedel and Dave Post. This is a fun instrumental tune, another track designed to get you on your feet.

The band slows thing down with a cool rendition of “Fool’s Paradise.” Listen to the way John Bauers delivers the word “dead” on “And it’s a wonder that I ain’t dead.” There is just a hint of hesitation, an acknowledgement that it really is something that death hasn’t caught him yet, that it could be just around the corner. He delivers that word a bit softer than the other words of the line, almost like he doesn’t want to tip Death off that he is vulnerable, doesn’t want to let the grim reaper know where he is. That’s followed by “The Mooche,” an instrumental track that really has its own landscape, its own world, its own denizens, its own rules, and we can only hope to sneak in the back door undetected and spy on the activities for a few moments. I particularly dig that drum beat. Then the playful “You’re Humbuggin’ Me” features some nice work on guitar. The album ends where it began, with “The Late Late Show,” this time an instrumental rendition.

CD Track List

1. The Late Late Show
2. I Love The Life I Live
3. Harlem Nocturne
4. Mary Ann
5. What’s Your Story, Morning Glory
6. Parchman Farm
7. Lonely Avenue
8. El Blues Esa Mujer
9. I Don’t Know
10. Riff’n On McGriff’n
11. Fool’s Paradise
12. The Mooche
13. You’re Humbuggin’ Me
14. The Late Late Show (instrumental)

Bluesville was released on May 8, 2020 through Zoho Music.