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 Great arrangements! Oct 31, 2009
The band sounds great on this disc. The arrangments are great and guaranteed to get your feet tapping! And lets face it,that is what swing music is all about. Tapping the feet! But, then the vocals come on and the singer just doesn't have a strong enough voice to pull it off. In my opinion, it hurts the overall impact of the recording. But if it gets a few people into the music of Cab Calloway, then good!!
The songs are fun and deserve to be heard again.
Now get out your copy of Stormy Weather and watch Cab in all his glory!
 Great fun swinging to BBVD's take on Cab Sep 25, 2009
Having been a fan of BBVD ever since 1997 when I saw them in Vegas, I was pleased to buy this and get it delivered to the UK, and listen to their latest sounds - or rather that of Cab Calloway songs.
Not all the songs are what are commonly put on the Cab Calloway compilations in the UK market, so it was great to hear some fresh Cab songs, and also hear BBVD's interpretation of the more familiar ones.
The initial track 'Come On With The Come On' starts with a swinging blast and inspires dancing straight away!! Lovely vocals and harmonies on this, with BBVD's customary flair with the faster beat. Piano introduction to the next track ' Calloway Boogie' makes a delightful contrast and takes the tempo to a nice relaxed pace too, whilst still sounding tight. But then you speed back up to 'The Call Of The Jitterbug' which is just as it should be - played with considerable skill at a fast pace, and Scotty Morris' vocal comes in over the top just right - I have no idea when he gets to breath though!
The title track midway through is where I instantly feel the Cotton Club influence, slightly sleazy atmosphere (as it were), which is superbly played by the band. Following it is a song I've never heard before 'The Old Man Of The Moutain' which is a bit stompy in the style, but a good track nonetheless, and very reminiscent of the Cab numbers.
I've heard versions of 'The Ghost of Smokey Joe' before (my fave probably remaining the very different Lee Press-On & The Nails from 2000) and I did like the BBVD treatment, a little easier to hear the lyrics of, and a medium-tempo, with the drama the song naturally contains being expressed very well.
For those who like a fast tempo, then you really want the 'Reefer Man' to get you moving - a fab drums intro from Kurt Sodergren, and the horns matching Dirk Shumaker's bass rhythm which is keeping everything moving smoothly onwards.
The most 'traditional' Cab version on the album has to be 'Minnie The Moocher' - the horns, especially The Kid on trumpet, give it a great sound, and Scotty sings this with close adherence to the original perfection of the song. And then, you get a slight change and the BBVD sound starts to make a little invasion, just updating the overall feel to it, just that little bit.
'Tarzan Of Harlem' finishes the album off in great swinging style, and gives an infectious beat straight away - smoother than other tracks as you feel almost a Hollywood movie dance routine underplaying this, and can imagine Fred & Ginger dancing, with an instrumental break midway to provide a lovely change. It just shows how well BBVD and the extra musicians have this style sorted out.
BBVD's albums usually have a great mix of swinging tunes, sweet melodies and rombustiousness, and this is definitely no exception, with this selection of their fave CC songs given a BBVD feel straight away. It's hard to make the famous 'The Jumpin' Jive' and 'Minnie The Moocher' different from the plethora of versions out there, but they seem to have found a way to give an very enjoyable listening experience in the process of making this audio tribute.
Big and "Bad" in a great way! Sep 12, 2009
Here's BBVD performing some of Cab Calloway's best songs. Perfect!
They are indeed big and bad!
Loved the whole package from the great arrangements, to the pristine recordings to the cover art.
Five Stars, baby!!
A must-have for swing or BBVD fans! Jul 31, 2009
When BBVD was here in Atlanta to promote this album, Scotty said that performing Cab Calloway's music was important to keep the songs alive. That has stuck in my head since then. As swing music fans it's up to us to keep this music alive.
This album revives Calloway's songs with typical BBVD flair; Scotty's smooth vocals and the band's familiar instrumentation. I wake up with one of the songs from album in my head and it carries me through my day. The song "How Big Can You Get" never fails to pick me up. By the second bridge I am so happy I could burst.
Definitely buy this album. I can't put mine down. When BBVD comes to your town make the effort to see them. They put on an amazing show. Keep swing alive!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Absolutely Fabulous Jul 17, 2009
This is BBVD's best album ever, and it so richly deserves a wide audience. A highly danceable toe-tapper that would make an absolutely electrifying movie soundtrack. When you get tired of the stale offerings on top 40 radio, give this a spin and turn it way up.
Refreshing and exciting doesn't begin to cover it.
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