Customer Reviews

One Hour Mama

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No other "retro" singer in the world today is as authenticly 1940's sounding as Lavay, as a matter a fact her sound goes back to the 20's with Bessie Smith, all the way to the 50's Big Maybelle. Lavay has her own style not sounding like any one singer from the past. But rather sounding like a singer from the past, without copying anyone. Her band is tight and gives exellent solos jazzwise, without compromising the dancability of these tunes. Lindy hoppers and jitterbigs love her. This cd is perfect proof taht something good came of the late 90's Swing revival!

Lavay Smith is beautiful. A gifted singer and all around classy lady! When she sings to you with that sexy voice, she will make your heart stop. Chris Siebert is the most awesome music arranger of our time. He's also Lavay's boy friend (lucky guy!) And look out for his piano solos! But you had better be holding on to something! This band combines Vocal, Piano, Rhythm, a variety of brass, bass and guitar. And it's FUN music, in the spirit of Bessie Smith, Ida Cox, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey, etc... My favorite cuts, it's so hard to choose. I love Downhearted Blues (Bessie Smith), One Hour Mama (very funny), Blue Skys (a classic), Oo Poppa Do (sexy), Squeeze Me (Fats Waller). My whole family has memorized the words. One last thing: This may be the first CD you ever wear out from over use! Thank you Skillet Lickers!

This is a great cd to add to your jazz and blues collection. Love Billie Holliday, Ella, etc. then you will LOVE Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, if not for their name alone. Lavay has an incredible saucy voice and the band is a tremendous talent with St. Louis, Chicago and Louisiana experience. (One band member even worked with Dizzy back in the day.) I saw them at their local Friday night gig in the Castro in San Francisco and couldn't believe I had stumbled upon such a find. Lots of fun to watch and they really get down. Except Lavay, snap your fingers to the beat ONLY, when you clap it is not quite as sexy and you are a PEACH. Thanks!!

A modern female crooner, sweet playful voice. She holds the very essence of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and the like. The band has a fantastic full sound and great solos. Close your eyes and you're in the 40's or 50's..............

Top jaz zplayers and hot arrangements, are what make Lavay's band standout. Chris Seiberts' boogie woogie piano playing is great and the horn section in tight and has room to solo. Lavay's vocals are original, and at the same time sound right out of the Dinah Washington, and Anita O'Day eras. The greatest cd to coem out of the neo swing era. Even touhh jazz critic Scott Yanow thinks this is one of the best swing cd's to come from the "swing revival" of the late 90's!!!

There were many talented singers from the lp & 78rpm eras, such as Helen Humes, Billie Holiday(early Lady Day), and Ruth Brown. And there are a sleuth of new "jazz" singers of the cd era, however many of them sound "kitchy" and dated, however Lavay Smith is the Helen Humes of the new millenium!!! Smith is not a imitator, she is fresh and unique, but has a 1940's torchy, sassy quality, she sounds 110% WOMAN!!! Great singer, awesome band that can sound like Louis Jordan's band or Dizzy Gillespie's!!! Tjey play combo swing and jump blues, and Smith covers everyone from 1920's Ida Cox(One Hour Mama) to Little Ester! A great singer and the greatest vintage sounding singer of the cd era!!!(only Kim Nalley comes close to sounding in the smae class as Smith). Essential swing and vocal album.

The old standard "Blue Skies" has been so over done, and yet when Lavay and her merry band syncopate, a new song zips forth with a youthful vibrance that will take your breath away. Thsi song once tired is totally revitalized and that is a tribute to this American treasure.

"Her Tears Flowed like Wine" a cute and supple song with a WWII style lustre of innocence, then a not-so-subtle wink-wink naughty "Walk Right In" is playful and teasing.

Not only is this a HUGELY talented collection of musicians and arrangements, it captures the spirit of swing jazz. Spectaular.

Lavay Smith and the Skillet Lickers (LS&RHSL) is a truly remarkable ensemble. The combined musical experience of the members probably amounts to something like 500 years. Some of the members in the horn section, for example, played with the originators of Big Band Blues, like Duke Ellington, Dorsey, and others. Smith's vocals have a polished smoothness that is unlike anything else on the jazz scene today.

"One Hour Mama" is a fulfilling introduction to LS&RHSL, and showcases not only Lavay's vocal stylings, but also the incredible polish of the rest of the band, particularly the horn section. The production quality of this CD is very good, with a warm, rich, mellow sound reminiscent of the early vinyl blues recordings, but without all the background noise.

If you are a fan of Big Band Blues and Swing, you owe it to yourself to check them out. And if you ever get a chance to see them live, roll right on down to the ticket office and grab those chits, because--short of going back in time--you will never have another opportunity to see and hear this music played the way it was originally made. At the very least, you need to buy this CD.

At swing lessons, they kept playing this song "Oo Poppa Do" over and over again. It got stuck in my head and I had to get the album.

For anyone who likes the "old school" swing and blues styling, this album is great. The songs have an old feel to them and the instrumental arrangements make you tap your toes. Especially if you love to dance, you will find some fabulous Lindy Hop tunes on this album. The songs just make you want to take it slow and style!

This is an excellent CD from the sweet sax on Blue Skies to Chris Siebert's boogie woogie piano and arrangements. I highly recommend this CD for parties, exercise, and of course listening. I bought this CD almost a year ago after a friend recommended it, and I still listen to it often.

I would like to hear them live. When are they coming to Wisconsin?