Azica Records, Inc.
Product Review...

Los Angeles Times

August 1999

Doc Severinsen Swingin'TheBlues

Azica Jazz AJD-72215

Jazz Spotlight

"Swingin' the Blues" (***, Azica) by Doc Severinsen and His Big Band focuses, for the most part, on the blues via new renderings of such tunes as "C Jam Blues," "The Hucklebuck," "All Blues" and "West End Blues." The Severinsen ensemble also does a train-inspired piece, Ellington's "Happy Go Lucky Local." As with the Lincoln Center ensemble, the arrangements and playing are inspired by an earlier era, in this case, the big-band style of the '50s, a style familiar to anyone who heard Severinsen's ensembles on the Johnny Carson "Tonight Show." (Many of those players and arrangers are included here.) And the work is performed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of musicians whose time in studios has not diminished their creative energies. There is, in addition, splendid soloing from the too often underrated Severinsen, drummer Ed Shaughnessy, tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, trumpeter Conte Candoli and vocalist Barbara Morrison, with fine arrangements from, among others, Bill Holman, John Bambridge and Tommy Newsom.

- Don Heckman

Review 1, 2

Return To Swingin'TheBlues