Sex from a different time period resonates throughout drummer Ronnie Magri's Shim Sham Revue, a soundtrack of sorts to the acclaimed burlesque revival show on the boards at the Shim Sham Club on Sunday nights.
There's nothing to quibble about here: the production and performances are top-notch, capturing an all-star roster of local players (including clarinetist Evan Christopher, pianist Joe Krown, bassist James Singleton, trumpeter Duke Heitger, guitarist Jason Goodman, and saxophonists Jerry Jumonville and Brian Ogilvie) dusting off hits and hidden gems from jazz's golden era. Heitger gets in some particularly dirty plunger work on Duke Ellington's "Black & Tan Fantasy," and the saxophonists get their chance to bump 'n' grind on Big Jay McNeely's "Deacon Hop." The songs range from the '30s-era pop nugget "Blue Prelude" to Sam Butera's '50s-era "Easy Rockin'," but all the material is bound together with the feel of the glory days of Storyville.
Sure, the material is all covers, but Magri and the band offer a reminder of how vital this music still is, and how it can be played with fresh enthusiasm and style.
Tracklist:
01. Burlesque (2:57)
02. Moonglow (3:02)
03. Black & Tan Fantasy (3:06)
04. Easy Rockin’ (2:21)
05. Egyptian Fantasy (3:18)
06. Deacon’s Hop (2:40)
07. Do You Care? (2:32)
08. One Monkey Don’t Stop No SHow (3:04)
09. Blue Prelude (2:09)
10. Tombstone Blues (2:46)
11. The Mooche (2:53)
12. Stormy Weather (2:46)
13. Last Call (3:33)
14. Mood Indigo (3:19)
15. Oyster Girl (7:12)
