King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys
Let 'Em Roll

There was a time when finding a swing band with a great horn section was child's play. Now, it's a challenge to find a group with the guts to focus on sax solos, hot licks, and a swingin' drum beat. It's doubly hard to find one that makes the grade. But King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys fit this exclusive bill, and their latest release, the mini-CD Let 'Em Roll, is lucky sevens all around.

The album opens with the fast, jumpin' title tune, a dancer's delight that delivers on speed and performance. The vocals are clear, and the twin saxophones (by King Pleasure and Boysie Battrum) showcase the band's excellent instrumentation. The next cut, "I Said It And I'm Glad", bears this out, and each member of the ensemble has a chance to shine on the more instrumental "Not Yet."

The tempo slows for "Everybody Get Together", a song that showcases the guitar talents of Bullmoose K. Shirley, and the mellow mood continues through "Can't Get Enough", which moves effortlessly from a rumba beat to swing and back again. "Lover Come Back To Me" delivers lots of satisfying bass lines (courtesy of Shark Van Schtoop) and a healthy dose of sax. And the closer, "Come Back To Sorrento", is a lovely cuddle-up slow dance that leaves you wanting more.

Just to be clear, Let 'Em Roll is a dance album. There are no thoughtful lyrics or soulful depths to be plumbed from this highly-charged, super-sax ensemble. But it's a lucky find, and so as a public service, I'm going to tell you how to get this CD. UK imports from small record labels can often be impossible to locate at your local music store or even big online order houses. Go directly to www.bigbearmusic.com/KINGP.html and buy the disc straight from the band. They'll appreciate the effort, and you'll dig the tunes.

—Frankie Hagan