Customer Reviews

Insect Ball

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is one of those sneaky surprises waiting out there in the swing music scene. Striking out from Portland, OR, Lily Wilde has produced a phenomenal album of big band swing, perfect for listening and dancing. Backed by the full Jumpin' Jubilee Orchestra, Lily Wilde lays out a series of tracks that capture the swingin' feeling of the big bands of the 1950s, like Billy May and Count Basie. It's jazzy swing with the soul of the blues...in other words, the genuine swing article, not some rock band that just stuck on a few horns and called themselves a swing band. Lily Wilde knows her musical history and knows what she likes, and that means you're guaranteed to like it as well.

Lily Wilde's voice is supremely soulful and powerful, reminding a bit of Ella Fitzgerald and Helen Humes (one of Count Basie's best female singers), but separate enough to have her own identity. She does a great job with such swingin' classics as "Mister Five by Five," "Work Baby Work," and "Oh Babe!" (my personal favorite cut from the album). These all swing smooth and very danceable, and should get a whole room of picky swing dancers jivin' and wailin'. I also enjoy the humorous "Rip Van Winkle." Lily slows it down and gets soulful and torchy on "Since I Fell for You," (the best slow number on the album) and a beautiful version of "Stormy Weather."

The band itself swings hard in a very Basie-like style, sounding like the legendary "Atomic" band from the 50s. This is most noticeable on a stand-out, mid-tempo instrumental, "Go Ahead and Rock." It's an infectious piece.

The only flaw in the album is the one bad track among the bunch, and ironically, it's the title track, "Insect Ball." The band swings fine, but the electronic manipulation of the voices and the silly lyrics cripple it. Unfortunate -- but how often do you come across an album where every track is great?

This still counts as a five-star swing recording for me. Swing fans who haven't heard Lily Wilde need to get their hands on this gem while it is still around. It's guaranteed to get you dancing again after you've worn out all your "Swing Session" albums.

As a DJ & Swing instructor I've never heard a debut album this polished before. Sound is tight, the vocals will send you, and if you've never danced before--you'll be dancing anyway. Tempos are perfect for East Coast Swing & Lindy Hop (from a beginner level to a "let's sweat!" :) -- this is one album I highly recommend, and use frequently in class for teaching.

If you like Bill Elliott, desire their tightness & musicality, but desire a more earthy, jump-blues inspired selections of tunes that really swing (from fast tempos to really seexxy blues numbers), this is it. A big influences for this band is Ella Mae Morse (who Lily sounds similar to).

Check it out, you WON'T be disappointed.

Also, if you ever make it to Portland, OR be sure to catch them here. They are hands down, the best swing band in town.

I like the title that Lily wanted to call this release, "All The Music You Would Have Heard If Your Parents Were Black." That's right! This is great music that all black artists covered first and all white artists were credited with making hits. Lily Wilde and the greatest musicians in Portland, Oregon play with authenticity all these song gems and even better they give the credit to the original artists. The solos on this release absolutely swing, the arrangements of the material make the whole effort shine and then there is Lily's vocals. Check out Rip Van Winkle! Lily overdubbed in perfect harmony with herself. It is historic music, played and sang with such style that they should be made Oregon's official "Ambassadors of Swing". If I were to choose a particular thing about this release that is outstanding, it would be the determination of Lily Wilde and Tom Royer to make sure this music is heard and appreciated all over again. As they say, "It's all good!"

This is a wonderful cd. Great arrangements played by a fine orchestra, and of course, the vocals by Ms. Wilde are as good as it gets. The only complaint I have is that this is her only recorded work that I can find. It's that good.

From the first note of the first track, you know that you are in for a swingin' ride. The charts are great, and the musicians are top-drawer. If you're a horn player....you're going to be jealous that you weren't selected for this recording session!

I bought this on the basis of the other reviews here and I agree it's a fanatastic CD. In fact one of the best.

I live in Oregon and am a swing fan (I have 20+ swing albums). I coworker let me listen to this album and I was hooked. I was surprise to find out that Lily Wilde is a local artist. I'm not much of a concert goer, but I've tracked down her concert schedule and am looking forward to her appearance at a local pub in August.

If you like swing music sung be good female artist then I think you might really enjoy this album. This is definitely on of my favorite albums. Heartily recommended!

If you like swing, this here's the thing. Fans of Lavay Smith will be pleased with what they hear. I have been a fan of Lily's for a while before I purchased her CD. I haven't been sorry since. Wonderful music with a lot of energy. I just wish she would play the east coast more often.

If your a fan of Lavay Smith this is a must have CD, Lily is awesome. Modern singers like these two are far a few between for a style of music I've always loved. What is not to love with this CD it makes me happy and puts a smile on my face, I loved it. Wish they would put out a new CD or two. A facebook fan page would be great.

Lily Wilde and the orchestra have obviously been listening to a lot of Buddy and Ella Johnson over the years. They have their horn driven r&b sound down! Lily even sounds a bit like Ella on occasion. The band stomps and swings while Lily's voice floats over the swinging rhythm section. Songs like "Mr. 5x5", the old tune about Jimmy Rushing and "work baby" by Louis Jordan sound like they were written by her. Great musicianship, great arrangements. Great record. Wish I could see them live!