The framing first of all is problematic as this has nothing to do, new or otherwise, really, fundamentally, deep down with Basie despite the name and mock up artwork. I know because I heard the current version of the Basie Big Band at Ronnie’s last year and I know The Atomic Mr Basie record. This lot from Leeds did not come to swing in any way shape or form in the same way.
Tunes include intrepid bandleader Fergus Quill’s. But the vocal of a Bob Dylan song ‘Love Sick’ later covered by The White Stripes decent though it is seems to belong on another record entirely. It proves distracting early on.
More positively the chunky baritone riffery of ‘Do the Right Thing’ is fun, sort of thing you’d hear on a Too Many Zooz record with extra welly.
But ‘Playing the Names’ is just wacky and silly & the appeal of the anarchy of ‘¡Besszilla!’ at the end fades after a few listens.
Best thing? Easily that’s Amy Clark of the far more interesting Awen Ensemble‘s period piece of a vocal found on ‘Same Sky’. It works well.
Jokey and rough at the edges – and the horn section quite often lacks definition when it just powers up – if it weren’t the point you’d say it all needs a good prune, paring back and a lot less giddiness. Where it works beyond the sheer lolz the spirit certainly wins out which in itself is to be applauded.
