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The
Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra
Swingin' The Century
 Bill
Elliott'sfirst full-length release, Swing Fever, hit the
scene in 1994, followed in 1997 by undoubtedly one of the best
authentic big band albums of the past 40 years, Calling All
Jitterbugs. now, Bill is back again, together with his 14-piece
orchestra and four-person vocal group, the Lucky Stars. On his
third release, Swingin' the Century, Elliott dishes up
15 cuts so stellar they're sure to blast even novice swing enthusiasts
straight into orbit.
Every
single track on the disc is a true gem, from the opening original
"Swingin' the Century" to the closing Glenn Miller classic
"Jeep jockey Jump." But the entire album is peppered with
standouts. "the Shim Sham Song," another Elliott original,
fits the classic swing line dance for which it is named for to a
tee. "Camp Hollywood Special" positively cooks, segueing
into the smooth vocal harmonies of "When We Dance," a
follow-up to "Streamliner," one of the most memorable
tunes from Jitterbugs. There are more original instrumentals,
including "Hep Hop" and "Maze of Death," but
Bill's quirky side shines through with the sweetly corny vocals
on "The Boogie Woogie Rhumba" and "At the Coconut."
There is even an admirable rendition of Artie Shaw's classic "Oh
Lady Be Good."
Swingin'
the Century will surely be counted among the top ten swing
albums of the decade. Authentic, modern and original—composed
and performed in the fashion and spirit of '30s and '40s big band
jazz—it just doesn't get any better than the Bill Elliott
Swing Orchestra.
-
Chad "DJ Chops" Kincaid
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