Swingin' Live [Live]

George Gee Big Band, George Gee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 30, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 30, 1998
• Format: Live
• Label: Swing 46
• ASIN: B00000G51J
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,565 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Come On In

2. Blues For Stephanie

3. Down For The Count

4. Let The Good Times Roll

5. Where Or When

6. Shiny Stockings

7. Four-Five-Six

8. Street Of Dreams

9. April In Paris

10. Here's That Rainy Day

11. Wailin' Caylen

12. Splanky

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gee, what a fine band!, October 30, 1999

By 

Robert C. Topper (Richardson, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swingin' Live (Audio CD)

It's wonderful that the revival of swing has allowed new big bands again to find an audience and opportunities to perform. George Gee leads a 17-piece band based in New York which truly deserves more recognition than it has gotten. This is surprising since New York City used to be where you went to become famous, but this is probably the result of the shift in the entertainment industry to Los Angeles. More closely resembling a jazz band from the mid-fifties rather than from the heyday of swing in the forties, this is an exceptional band here performing live for an appreciative audience which doesn't get in the way of the music. The men play so well together that it's hard to single anyone out for particular praise; however, tenorman Lance Bryant and Irvin Stokes on trumpet should be mentioned. Vocalist Carla Cook is heard on a couple of tracks. Singing with hints of Dinah Washington and just a little of Sarah Vaughan, she needs to be featured more. And we definitely need to hear more from this band.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, danceable, Basie-Ellington type big-band sound, May 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Swingin' Live (Audio CD)

The sounds of George Gee's orchestra remind you a lot of the best traditions of big band greats like Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Almost all the tunes on the CD have an amazingly good arrangements. Excellent continuous medium-tempo beats that are great to dance to along with great improvisations by the brass section and piano.

Unlike the modern rock bands like Cherry Poppin' Daddy and Brian Setzer who just believe in pointlessly fast beats, this band's music seriously swings. There are smooth ups and downs and the tunes are a great pleasure to dance to. The band is even more fun in person. This is a definite MUST-HAVE if you're looking for a single CD with medium-paced tunes to Lindy Hop or swing to.

Excellent job, Mr. Gee and your orchestra. Its great to have a band like yours that keeps the dancers wanting for more, more, more!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swinging Danceable Big Band Jazz and Blues, December 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Swingin' Live (Audio CD)

Gee's CD recorded live at a New York Swing Dance Society Sunday Night Dance (in its 15th year of weekly dances) is the best danceable real jazz big band CD made in recent years. Do you think you know Shiny Stockings -- this CD has a special arrangement for Gee by Frank Foster who originally wrote the song for Count Basie. Plus original songs. You will listen to this and dance to it -- the only other recent swing CD's that is of this quality and style is Lavay Smith's. Both Lavay and Gee could be set back in the 30's and would pack people in.