Rattle Them Bones

by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Overview

Since hitting it big in the '90s during the swing revival, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have stuck to their retro-guns while finding ways to explore new ground. To these ends, 2003's Save My Soul found the band delving into New Orleans rhythms and R&B, while 2009's How Big Can You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway featured the music of the legendary Hi-De-Ho man. That album brought them deeper into a hardcore jazz sound and most likely helped them in signing with the Savoy Jazz label for 2012's similarly jazz-inflected Rattle Them Bones. Once again centered around the sweet and lyrical lead vocals of guitarist/songwriter Scotty Morris, the album features a mix of new material, jazz covers, and even an unexpected take on Randy Newman's "It's Lonely at the Top." These are crisply produced, urbane, and always swinging tunes that often have an old-school big-band sound. This impressive large ensemble sound comes via the longtime core rhythm section of pianist Joshua Levy, bassist Dirk Shumaker, and drummer Kurt Sodergren, as well as such featured players as trumpeter Glen "The Kid" Marhevka, and saxophonists Karl Hunter and Andy Rowley. With all arrangements by Levy, the band is also complemented by a bevy of stellar studio musicians who round out several cuts here. Also featured here is vocalist Meaghan Smith, who duets with Morris on the romantic midtempo ballad "It Only Took a Kiss." Longtime fans of the group's neo-crooner jazz sound, as well as anybody who digs solidly crafted and always swinging traditional jazz and pop, should find much to enjoy here. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	09/04/2012
Label:	Savoy Jazz
UPC:	0795041791313
Rank:	49025

Tracks

1. The Adventures of...
2. Diga Diga Do
3. The Jitters
4. Let It Roll Again
5. It Only Took a Kiss
6. She's Always Right
7. Why Me?
8. Devil's Dance
9. It's Lonely at the Top
10. Still in the Mood
11. Gimme That Wine
12. 5-10-15 Times

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy   Primary Artist
Meaghan Smith   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Glen "The Kid" Marhevka   Trumpet
Kurt Sodergren   Drums
Andy Rowley   Vocals,Sax (Baritone)
Dirk Shumaker   Vocals,Bass (Upright),Bass (Acoustic)
Scotty Morris   Banjo,Guitar,Vocals
Joshua Levy   Piano,Conductor
Karl Hunter   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)

Technical Credits

Tab Smith   Composer
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy   Producer
Jacques Voyemant   Additional Music
Alex Henderson   Additional Music
Bernie Dresel   Additional Music
Joe Liggins   Composer
Jon Hendricks   Composer
Scotty Morris   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Lucky Millinder   Composer
Ray Gilbert   Composer
Randy Newman   Composer
Tom Peterson   Additional Music
Jane Levy   Additional Music
Margaret Wooten   Additional Music
Steve Genewick   Engineer
Bert Williams   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Jimmy Liggins   Composer
Joshua Levy   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Robbie Hioki   Additional Music
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Lee Thornburg   Additional Music
Ira Nepus   Additional Music
Scheila Gonzalez   Additional Music
Robert Hadley   Mastering
Lew Pollack   Composer
Chad Carlisle   Engineer,Second Engineer
Anthony Bonsera Jr.   Additional Music
Connie Kupka   Additional Music
Kelly Corbin   Additional Music
Jeremy Miller   Second Engineer,Engineer,Second Engineer
Rebecca Dulatre   Additional Music
David H. Speltz   Additional Music
Jim Fox   Additional Music
Andy Engel   Design
Amanda Zidow   Additional Music
Adam Harr   Engineer
Keith Munson   Engineer
Lisa Dodge   Photography
Florence Titmus   Additional Music
Steven Huber   Additional Music