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| Western Swing CD Reviews |
| Click on the CD image to visit the artist website. |
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| Elana
James |
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CD: Self-titled |
| Label: Snarf Records |
Rating:  |
Reviewed by Joe Ross
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Elana Fremerman is
originally from Kansas. In search of her muse, she's now living in
Austin and is known as Elana James. Beaming with irresistible, savory
music, Elana's debut comfortably presents original songs alongside
classic jazz and western swing standards. All have straightforward
stories and simple declarations. The ten-year member of the Hot Club of
Cowtown was invited to join Bob Dylan's group shortly after the former
disbanded. She covers Dylan's hit that was originally released in the
60s, "One More Night," and she's clearly ready for the light to shine on
her. Building off her previous body of recorded work, Elana's music
radiates with plenty of seductive charm, confidence and composure. It's
nice to see the skillful musician making the big leap to being a
full-fledged soloist in the spotlight. It's obviously a kind of
liberating experience for her. Six of the CD's cuts are her own
self-penned original songs demonstrating her proficiency as both
musician and lyricist. Her challenge is to make the set sound both new
and old alike, and Elana has that special knack that will surely bring
much continued success. One of the youngest inductees into the Texas
Western Swing Hall of Fame, Elana is happening..probably because she
sings and plays with so much fervor and infatuation. She's got it bad,
and luckily for us that's good!
Whether bowing her "Eva's Waltz" or vocalizing Eubie Blake's big 1940s
hit "Memories of You," she connects the dots from past to present. She's
blessed with a Midas touch on her violin that moves effortlessly from
note to note throughout the album. Actually, she prefers to be known as
a "fiddilist." With a standard like "Silver Bells," she and Johnny
Gimble do some expressive twin fiddling in harmony before embarking on
some brief but fiery improvisations. Recording with James on his 80th
birthday, Gimble also plays his electric mandolin on "Goodbye Liza
Jane." Besides Gimble, other instrumental support on the album comes
from Beau Sample (bass), Dave Biller (guitar), Luke Hill (guitar), Joe
Kerr (piano), Bruce Brackman (clarinet), and Mark Hallman (brushes).
Sample also contributes some harmony vocals.
James' voice is lovely, limpid and even somewhat exotic on her leisurely
rendition of Duke Ellington's "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" and
"I Don't Mind." The latter is a very pleasant song that we just don't
often hear covered as frequently as Duke's bigger hits. While some may
perceive her lyrics as a tad novice ("Run Away With Me") when laid out
alongside words from the likes of famous lyricists, I feel that Elana
holds her own with some splendid musical vignettes.."oh baby, take me by
the hand, help me understand." She writes with more traditional
sensibility than with some contrived or modernistic approach that
attempts to push boundaries of the genre she's playing. "Twenty-Four
Hours A Day" opens the project with a jumpin' groove, and her own
harmonies on "All The World And I" are more winsome, old-time and folky.
The latter song was inspired from a biography about A. P. Carter as she
sings "when all the flowers grow up, it's you they want to be." What a
feather in her cap that her own plain but thughtful messages can stand
up side-by-side to those of Bob Dylan (One More Night), Billy Strayhorn
(I Don't Mind), Andy Razaf (Memories of You), Paul Webster (I Got It
Bad), and Carson Robison (The Little Green Valley). You may recall that
the last song was a hit for Marty Robbins, and Elana does seems to have
an affinity for elements of nature as she observes "I hear a mockingbird
down in the little green valley / he's singing out a song of welcome
just for me." Elana is very comfy singing about babbling brooks and
shady nooks, or searching (in "I Got It Bad") for sweet, gentle love as
she feels "like a lonesome weeping willow lost in the wood."
Elana James' debut album is enchanting and mesmerizing. It shows that
she's both accomplished and witty -- a proficient swinging and jazzy
raconteur if you will. Be sure to catch her own trio (with Sample and
Hill) when they come to town. This album reinforces her belief that the
key to success is just a matter of getting out there and doing it.
Joe Ross -
rossjoe@hotmail.com |
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| Billy
Mata & The Texas Tradition |
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CD: Domino
Effect |
| Label: Texas
Tradition Music |
| Rating: |
Reviewed by Herb Barbee - RMR Staff Reviewer
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Billy Mata
and his Texas Tradition keep their own tradition going with another
outstanding collection of classic songs and Texas Swing in their CD “The
Domino Effect.” As you have come to expect, Billy and his band of very
talented musicians play their inimitable brand of music with equally
unmatched passion and energy.
Mata’s crystal clear
vocals blend with the rifts and whines of the steel guitar and the
harmonies are excellent. That impeccable combination is bound to take
you back to the great days and sounds of Bush, Robbins, Williams and
Wills.
Some of the songs
will have you begging for a dance floor and others will have you pausing
and reflecting. His rendition of the Mexican classic “Cielito Lindo” is
one for the books as he presents it in his own unique style. It is all
great listening!
Herb Barbee - RMR Staff Reviewer |
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| Jessie
Lee Miller |
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| Buck
Page |
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