The JIVE KINGS with Measha Bruggergosman (Canada, 2001)
The JIVE KINGS were a Canadian neo-swing band that recorded two albums in the years 2000/2001. They were part of the short-lived Swing Revival scene of the late Nineties. The only source of information on the Web is the website of bass-player Deryl Gallant.
Their first album “Spoon for a Knife” was released in February 2000. Today's post, their second album came out a year later. The originality of this second album is their choice of female vocalist in the person of a young Canadian operatic soprano, Ms Measha Bruggergosman.
Miss Bruggergosman has impressive lungs obviously (listen to Big Spender) and a lot of vocal techniques, I let you decide whether it works or not in a jazz setting (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t …).
Now if you are not keen on Neo Swing, let me reassure you that these guys are not a rock band with added horns. They are all proficient jazz players and they do take some good soli (esp. Dan Warren on trumpet and Barrie Sorensen on saxes).
On the weak side, their compositions are not always up to the standards (Tugboat being especially dreaful, IMHO). They're at their best when they play standards
Credits:
Tracklist
1. She Made Me Wanna Jive*Music & Lyrics: Barrie Sorensen
2. You Stole My Heart From Me*
Music: Barrie Sorensen
Lyrics: Michael Ross
Solos: Dan & Barrie
3. Telephone Call From Istanbul
Music & Lyrics: Tom Waits
Solos: Perry, Mike & Barrie
4. Blue Skies**
Music & Lyrics: Irving Berlin
Solos: Perry & Barrie
5. Summertime**
Music & Lyrics: Dubose Heyward and George Gershwin
Solos: Bob & Dan
6. Mr Magic*
Music & Lyrics: Michael Ross
Solos: Mike, Bob and Barrie
7. Maybe I'll Meet You*
Music: Barrie Sorensen
Lyrics: Michael Ross
Solos: Dan & Barrie
8. When I Close My Eyes*
Music & Lyrics: Perry Williams
Solos: Dan & Barrie
9. Big Spender**
Music & Lyrics: Dorothy Fields and Cy Coleman
Solo: Dan
10. A-Tisket, A-Tasket**
Music & Lyrics: Ella Fitzgerald and Van Alexander
Solo: Barrie
11. They Can't Take That Away**
Music & Lyrics: George and Ira Gershwin
Solo: Barrie
12. Tugboat*
Music & Lyrics: Michael Ross
Solo: Mike (n.b. this one is pretty dreadful, skip it!)
13. Nowhere Like This*
Music: Barrie Sorensen
Lyrics: Michael Ross
Solos: Bob & Perry
14. Omegabop*
Music: Barrie Sorensen
Solos: Dan, Barrie, Perry & Alan
* Jive Kings original composition
** featuring special guest Measha Brueggergosman
You can get a copy directly from band member Deryl Gallant HERE