SOUND CHECK.Byline: - Fred Shuster Brian Setzer Orchestra/``The Dirty Boogie'' (Interscope) Setzer's 17-piece big band is one of the longest-running and best of the premillennium swing outfits. Instead of taking a purist pur·ist n. One who practices or urges strict correctness, especially in the use of words. pu·ris  tic adj. ,
archival approach, the jazz-tinged rockabilly guitarist-singer adds a
postmodern vibe to such standouts as the Louis Prima hit ``Jump Jive
an' Wail,'' the grinder GrinderA slang term for a person who works in the investment industry and makes small amounts of money at a time on small investments, over and over again. Notes: ``Sleepwalk'' and Rosemary Clooney's ``This Old House.'' A charged remake of the Stray Cats The Stray Cats are a rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer (Bloodless Pharaohs/Brian Setzer Orchestra) with school friends Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. hit ``Rock This Town,'' thrilling album-opener ``This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof'' and a campy duet with No Doubt's Gwen Stefani on ``You're the Boss'' put the Setzer orchestra's third record among the most plainly enjoyable pop discs of the year. Setzer's no slouch slouch v. slouched, slouch·ing, slouch·es v.intr. 1. To sit, stand, or walk with an awkward, drooping, excessively relaxed posture. 2. To droop or hang carelessly, as a hat. v. on guitar, either. Three Stars Various/``L.A. County Line: A Country Compilation From the City of Angels'' (Strawdog) This eye-opening compilation of local country-rock outfits associated with Ronnie Mack's long-running weekly Barndance event makes for a nice introduction to a thriving but little-known scene deserving of wider recognition. The influence of the Byrds and Gram Parsons runs through these 19 tracks like old Route 99 cuts through Bakersfield, spiritual home to this high lonesome lone·some adj. 1. a. Dejected because of a lack of companionship. See Synonyms at alone. b. Producing such dejection: a lonesome hour at the bar. 2. sound. The quality here is generally high, while outstanding cuts include offerings from the always-interesting Rosie Flores Rosie Flores (born September 10 1950 in San Antonio, Texas) is a rockabilly and country music artist of Mexican American heritage. Her music blends rockabilly, honky tonk, jazz, and Western swing along with traditional influences from her Tex-Mex heritage. backed by a group of high-profile session players, the wry Trailer Park Casanovas, guitar maverick Deke Dickerson, singer-songwriter Annie Harvey and up-and-coming post-punk bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. quintet Cousin Lovers. Three Stars - Fred Shuster Dr. John/``Anutha Zone'' (Pointblank) It was a surreal idea to hook up New Orleans gris-gris gris-gris n. Variant of grigri. wizard and pianist Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) with Paul Weller and members of such top British bands as Spiritualized Spiritualized is an English rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce (who often goes by the alias J. Spaceman) after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3. , Portishead, Supergrass supergrass Noun Brit, Austral & NZ an informer who names a large number of people as terrorists or criminals, esp. one who gives this information in order to avoid being put on trial Noun 1. , Primal Scream and Ocean Colour Scene. Surreal because Rebennack's music is generally so earthbound earth·bound also earth-bound adj. 1. Fastened in or to the soil: earthbound roots. 2. a. and funky while many of these Brits create floaty Float´y a. 1. Swimming on the surface; buoyant; light. Adj. 1. floaty - tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas; "buoyant balloons"; "buoyant balsawood boats"; "a floaty scarf" buoyant , neo-psychedelic soundscapes. But this alluring musical meeting of the bayou and Camden actually provides plenty of surprises. The common ground is groove on memorable tracks like ``John Gris'' and ``Hello God,'' both utilizing the space guitar of Spiritualized's Jason Pierce and a gospel choir. Another goodie good·ie n. Variant of goody1. is the haunting ballad ``Party Hellfire'' with Weller. Three and One Half Stars - Fred Shuster Jennifer Paige/``Jennifer Paige'' (Edel America/Hollywood) Atlanta native Paige's self-titled debut was issued this week on the heels of her irresistible top 10 smash, ``Crush,'' which opens the proceedings here. That seductive and refreshing blue-eyed soul gem clearly dominates the disc, but other tracks hold up nearly as well. Working with hitmaker-songwriter Andy Goldmark, Paige reveals a distinctive approach and flexible gospel-inspired vocal range on such strong material as ``Busted,'' ``Between You and Me'' and ``Always You.'' Three Stars - Fred Shuster Soundtrack/``How Stella Got Her Groove Back'' (Flyte Tyme/MCA) Produced and co-written mostly by hitmaking duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, this soundtrack is an r&b-heavy package of superstars and rising stars with new tunes from Mary J. Blige, K-Ci & JoJo, Boyz II Men Boyz II Men is an American R&B/soul singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1988 as a quintet which originally included Marc Nelson, Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with members Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris, on Motown , Diana King and others. Jazzie B. offers the opening and closing tracks while the newly reunited Soul II Soul perform the radio-ready ``Free Again.'' Another selling point is a Stevie Wonder/Wyclef Jean version of Wonder's ``Mastablasta '98.'' Two and One Half Stars - Fred Shuster Cornell Dupree/``Uncle Funky'' (Kokopelli) Dupree's distinctive Texas phrasing and soulful Telecaster tone made him one of the most sought-after r&b session cats of the '70s, backing Aretha, King Curtis, Donny Hathaway and other greats. On this terrific set of instrumentals cut six years ago at Gotham's Lonestar Roadhouse road·house n. An inn, restaurant, or nightclub located on a road outside a town or city. roadhouse Noun a pub or restaurant at the side of a road Noun 1. , Dupree slips and slides through a warm repertoire of originals like ``Duck Soup'' (covered previously with former band Stuff) and ``Southern Comfort,'' plus top-flight readings of ``Ode to Billy Joe'' and ``Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours.'' Backed by such high-profilers as bassist Will Lee and keyboardist Richard Tee, Dupree's fretwork here can make you say ``uncle.'' Three Stars - Fred Shuster Sherman Irby/``Big Mama's Biscuits'' (Blue Note) Alto saxophonist Irby's sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour extends to his music. On top of that, the guy has lung power to spare and blows through originals like ``Conversing With Cannon,'' `` 'Bama'' and ``Aunt Dorothy'' like a freight train. Irby gets sturdy support here from guitarist Ed Cherry during a cover of Stevie Wonder's ``Too High'' and other tracks. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove lends a hand to the title track. Three Stars - Fred Shuster Peter Green with Nigel Watson/``The Robert Johnson Songbook'' (Artisan) Bad news. Green should never have been dragged out of his long retirement. His chops are a thing of the past, not that he ever attempts to use them on this tepid collection of Robert Johnson covers. Pull out your copy of Fleetwood Mac's ``Blues Jam at Chess'' or the Green-Otis Spann album instead. One Star - Fred Shuster Various/``Jazz a Saint-Germain'' (Higher Octave) Anyone who has been to Paris and spent some time nursing a bottle of wine in one of the Saint-Germain district's famous cafes will love this compilation of torch songs, jazz and world music. There are some nice surprises here, from the duet between French chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] Francoise Hardy and punk forefather Iggy Pop on the wonderful standard ``I'll Be Seeing You'' to the moving nostalgia of ``These Foolish Things,'' sung by Jane Birken and Jimmy Rowles. There's a reggae-tinged ``God Bless the Child'' and a version of ``Summertime'' that has been reimagined as a tribal folk song. This is a marvelously eclectic collection of styles and cultures, just like the city it salutes. Three and One Half Stars - Glenn Whipp Sarah Vaughan/``Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook'' (Verve) Sarah Vaughan could sing the Spice Girls songbook and make it interesting with her distinctive, intense voice. Here, though, she's often overwhelmed by some of the heavy orchestral arrangements, such as on rather syrupy versions of ``Days of Wine and Roses'' and ``Charade.'' Where Vaughan cooks is on Mancini's swinging numbers like the themes to ``Mr. Lucky'' and ``Peter Gunn.'' This reissue is a mixed bag, but one Vaughan enthusiasts will probably want to add to their collections. Two and One Half Stars - Glenn Whipp CAPTION(S): 8 Photos Photo: (1) On ``Anutha Zone,'' pianist Dr. John teams up with a host of British rockers. (2--8) no caption (CD covers) |
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