The
Jive Aces are taking a surprise new musical direction... by releasing a skiffle EP.
The band are best known for their high energy jump jive sound, but their latest recording project was inspired by a gig with the reigning British skiffle authority Chas McDevitt... and lead singer Ian Clarkson's passion for the ukulele.
Ian said: "What started as a fun idea, after being bitten by the ukulele bug and our trombonist Alex's impulse buy of a washboard, has now grown into a popular part of our live set. I have
seen that each time we do these happy skiffle songs, the crowds just love it and have the time of their lives and so by popular demand we produced this EP, and who knows? Maybe we'll have to do some more!"
"The great thing about skiffle was that it was an impromptu style of music that basically anyone could play even if they had to improvise instruments - such as the washboard and tea-chest bass. We had a lot of fun capturing the spontaneous spirit of skiffle but in a fantastic high quality recording studio so you can really hear that washboard and the slap of the bass like never before."
The
five-track EP, It's Skiffle Time, includes a couple of skiffle
classics and also features guest singer Lil' Miss Hayley (pictured
left) adding a new twist to Mr Sandman.
Skiffle legend Chas McDevitt, who sold over two million copies of Freight Train in 1957, said: "The advent of skiffle music in the mid-fifties cheered everybody after years of post-war depression. How appropriate that the Jive Aces should now revive this happy feeling."
The album is being promoted with a video of one of the tracks,
Mama Don't Allow.
Godfathers of jive
Oo-Bop-Sh'Bam front man
Jackson Sloan has released his first solo jive album, after nearly 30 years on the scene.
Saturday Clothes features 12 original tracks. Jackson was inspired by a conversation with long-time buddy, sax supremo Ray Gelato. The pair have known each other since the early 1980s when Jackson fronted legendary Essex band Rent Party and Ray led the Chevalier Brothers, kings of the London club circuit.
"You could call us the Godfathers of jive," says Jackson. "We've wanted to do something together for a long time and now we've finally got round to it."
A meeting with Gelato and pianist Gunter Kurmeyer at the 606 Club in London was the catalyst for the project. They brought in a top double bass player Peter Pritchard, guitarist Richard Studholme and drummer Mike Thorne who also produced the recording at his Rimshot vintage studios in Kent.
"It was like being in a timewarp," says Jackson. "The studio has original RCA mics and a Decca mixing desk. We recorded it just as they did in the 40s, 50s and 60s. It had the feel of a jam session and I think it's given the production real warmth."
The album reflects Jackson's passion for the music of the great blues shouters, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Jay McShann, Memphis Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, Big Joe Williams - many of whom he saw live and got to meet in person on visits to London's 100 Club.
Vintage studio
Ray Gelato said: "Jackson really has that shouting stile down to a tee. He reminds me of a modern day Joe Turner or Wynonie Harris. Jackson told me he had written a complete album of original songs. When I heard them I was completely knocked out by the quality and originality of the material. I was also thrilled when Jackson asked me to help arrange and play sax on his album. "The band decided to record the old fashioned way - live in a wonderful vintage studio. We got together, turned on the tapes and what came out was terrific - in my opinion a really authentic, totally original jump blues album that I hope will put Jackson on the map as a great vocalist and songwriter."
The title track, Saturday Clothes, was written with Pete Pritchard, while three others were written with Ray Gelato. The album drew on Jackson's own collection of lyrics, written over the years and stored by the boxload.
The CD has had a warm reception, with interest as far away as Kansas City where it has been played on radio station KCUR.
Sloan stresses he's still committed to Oo-Bop-Sh'Bam but has relished the chance to record his first solo album since releasing a jazz-based collection on vinyl in 1989.
"It's nice to be able to branch out and do some work in tandem with the main band," he says. Some solo gigs are in the pipeline.
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Saturday Clothes is available from
Raucous Records and Amazon.
No rush for Russ
He's been on the scene for 54 years, but veteran rocker Russ Sainty has only just got round to releasing his 'debut' solo album.
There are 76 tracks on the album Radio Play That Song Again - one for each year of Russ's long and colourful life.
Russ worked with the Rolling Stones and Cliff Richard in the sixties and has shared memorable encounters with Arthur Askey, Alma Cogan, Vera Lynn, Frank Ifield, Bobby Vee, Olivia Newton John, Bert Weedon, Mat Monro, Eden Kane and Tommy Steele.
The Hampshire-based singer told ITV's Meridian Tonight: "The enthusiam is still there. I've done lots of other things in my life but entertainment and music have always been number one. There are 76 tracks on the new CD, so we think we've done something a little bit special and possibly made rock'n'roll history, because I don't think anybody has waited 54 years to put out their first proper album."
Redcoat
Sainty made his mark performing at the legendary California Ballroom on Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire, which was a magnet for almost every top rock and pop act of the sixties. He was booked by promoter Edwin Green for no less than 338 sessions up to the mid-sixties, including the opening night, March 12th 1960. Russ met his wife Anne in 1969 when he and his band were playing Butlins in Bognor Regis, and she was a redcoat. They now live nearby in Hayling Island.In 2006, along with Sir Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Wee Willie Harris and others, he was honoured by the 2i's coffee bar in London as one of British rock'n'roll's founding fathers.
The new triple album contains brand new songs penned by Russ as well as
covers of some memorable early recordings including Race with the Devil,
one of Russ's 1960 recordings with Decca. There's a new version
of Russ's 1962 HMV cover of Send Me The Pillow (That You Dream On).
Also a cockney version of the novelty number Ally Oop.
There are 51 all original Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes tracks, both vocal and instrumental, together with six original tracks of Russ singing with the famous Dallas Boys, who featured in Jack Good's Oh Boy television shows. A further 11 tracks are original demo tracks of Russ and The Nu-Notes rehearsing new material in a bedroom on a domestic recorder.
Radio Play That Song Again is available from www.RussSainty.com at £19.08 including UK delivery.
If
it jumps, jives, bops or strolls we want to know about it.
or call 07833 703189.