Tribute to the DUTCH SWING COLLEGE BAND

1. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

2. Snake Rag

3. Careless Love

4. Canal St Blues

5. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate

6. Big Butter And Egg Man

7. Savoy Blues

8. From Monday On

9. Wabash Blues

10. Doctor Jazz

11. Exactly Like You

12. That's A Plenty

13. Fidgety Feet

Playing Time - 69.35 Minutes

Choice Cuts
New Melbourne Jazz Band, a Tribute To The Dutch Swing College Band:
NMJB Records: Reviewed On CD: 13 Selections, TT=69:39

New Melbourne leader Ross Anderson admits to being hooked for 35 years on the Dutch Swing College Band and it's obvious his six-piece group has gone to school on the Collegians. Which is a good thing since the 13 tunes on the NMJB's newest recording are ones performed often by the Dutch dandies. While the NMJB may lack some of their favorites' preciseness, the Australian entry more than makes up for it with unbridled energy and enthusiasm.

Interestingly, Australia has always produced its share of quality Dixieland bands. And, of course, the fun-loving, free wheeling New Melbourne music men whose roots maybe buried in the trad but who swing right out the front door when they feel like it.

With this in mind, it's not surprising the piano-less sextet's recorded selections, taken from material performed at two separate concerts, include Dixie didos like "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" with clarinetist Ian Walker taking a turn at the vocal mike and "Dr. Jazz" with leader/bassist Ross Anderson handling the vocal and Walker chipping in with a burly baritone sax solo, as well as other trad favorites such as an all-out instrumental flings at "That's A Plenty" and "Fidgety Feet."

Other highlights include a swivel-hipping "Snake Rag, "a vocal feature for ebullient trombonist John Murray; a sure-footed "From Monday On," with Murray again making like a songbird; a sizzling though brief take of the Dutchmen's theme, a particularly bristling version of "Canal Street Blues" that gives cornetist Derek Reynolds and Walkear all kinds of room to roam; a slow and easy go on "Wabash Blues" with Walkear, Reynolds and Murray checking in with tasty solos, and "Exactly Like You," another vocal and trombone feature for Murray. And it wouldn't be proper or fair to overlook the contributions of banjo and guitar strummer Chris Farley and timekeeper Ron Sandlands, who, along with Anderson, form a solid underpinning for the feisty front line.

In sum, two thumbs up for an interesting and intriguing performance by a band that knows where it's going.