1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Jazz Comedy King Jives for the Troops, January 9, 2006
This review is from: Five Guys Named Moe (Audio CD)
If you enjoy the clowing jazz and jive of the master, Louis Jordan, you'll love this. These are basically the "V-Discs" that were released especially for servicemen during WW2. Thus, the humor is a tad more adult-oriented (read-sexually "suggestive") than what he generally performed and released to the public.
For example, "Deacon Jones" (undoubtedly inspired by the "Elder Eatmore" sermons by Jordan's hero and inspiration Bert Williams) is a wacky farce about a philandering preacher. In "Bahama Joe," he records what is probably the first of his long line of calypso send-ups that endeared him to West Indians and in one lyric, his character says to get up off your (quick silence). This allusion is even more blatant in "Rusty Dusty Blues." Of course, all of this is tame by modern standards and could be played around the kiddies today.
No Jordan Cd would be complete without vibrant instrumentals that show that Jordan could be a serious saxophonist and jazzman along with a master comedian. We are treated to this in "St. Vitus dance" and "Saxa-woogie."
But since Jordan rarely made any really bad records, to say that this set is great would be redundant. This and just about any Jordan cd is a requirement after a hard day at school or work. Enjoy.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, funny, great classic jazz & blues, October 6, 2004
This review is from: Five Guys Named Moe (Audio CD)
If you like original classic jazz, swing, or jump blues you'll love this CD. I haven't listened to other Louis Jordan CDs so I can't compare this to them, but I really loved the toe-tapping, funny, energetic jazz here.
Quality is typical of recordings from the 40's--mono and a little bit scratchy, but the quality of the music makes up for it. Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five sound like a cross between Fats Waller, the Mills Brothers, and T-Bone Walker (swap the guitar for a sax).
This compilation includes fast jump blues, slow blues, boogie-woogie, exuberant swing numbers, and even a V-disc recording from WWII. You'll probably recognize some of the tunes--one popular Jordan song missing is 'Beans & Cornbread.'
Jordan was one of the primary inventors of the R&B movement, and was one of the first black musicians to crossover to mainstream pop, with a huge number of hits.
For me, this inexpensive CD was a great introduction to an influential and very popular entertainer, who was the inspiration for the broadway musical 'Five Guys Named Moe'.
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