Customer Reviews

Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Compared to the likes of current Retro Swing Bands, that for the most part don't even come close to anything resembling the swing or jump blues bands of the 40's, it is refreshing to hear a band that for the most part, nails it.

In today's music market, including the world of swing all too often bands appear who are harping on that rock n' roll early 90s sound with a swing beat. This works less often then it is tried. The J Street Jumpers are one of the few bands of late that more than play the notes on the sheet in front of them. The J Street Jumpers feel the music. This is obvious in their recent release "Is you is or is you ain't my baby?". There is an interesting sound at work here that harkens back to the decades of the 30s to the 50s. J Street owes a lot the the allure of Marianna Previti for her vocal stylings that range from Andrew Sister-esque to sounding a little like a young Ella Fitzgerald. Previti delivers her lines with of confidence a determined woman from the silver screen of the 40s. This is actually quite refreshing and something I personally have been wanting to hear from a swing band with female vocals. "Is you is..", begins with a punch with its first track Better Beware, then smoothly slides into a sultry number with Ain't But One. Arthur Gerstein, pianist also provides vocals. Gerstein's vocals on Night Life Boogie lack the knack that Previti's does, but he makes up for his vocals with his piano playing. Amazingly the J Street Jumpers cover Louis Prima's "swing version of Smells Like Teen Spirit", also known as "Jump, Jive & Wail". Here for the first time is an interesting rendition which both Gerstein and Previti share the vocal duties. For once this over-covered song almost works. Sixteen tracks are compiled on this CD, all covers, but done tastefully. Often with well placed passion for the musical execution. J Street's four horn section, upright bass, drums and a well placed electric guitar, please the ears especially on "When I Get Low I Get High" and "Sure Had A Wonderful Time Tonight." J Street, who hail from the Washington DC, visually don't look like the modern 90s swing group, although as mamma always said, "You can't judge a book by it's cover". J Street tends to play more political parties than they do night clubs which is sad, because they have become one of the best kept secrets on the east coast.

Amazon limits reviews to just a thousand words, so I'll be brief. Listen to this CD! Put it down for a day. Come back to it a day later and listen again. Yep, it's as good the first time you heard it. Probably better. These guys, excuse me and gal, sing and swing. J. Gordon Holt of Stereophile fame once said, and I paraphrase, "if it doesn't make your toe tap, it's not music." Well, this stuff makes your toe tap, your head bop and weave and heck you might even kick the rug back and swing the wife about a bit.

The group is tight. They know their music and don't pretend to know anything other swing. No bossa nova retro be bop hoot and holler stuff. This music takes you back to when a tune was a tune and the lyrics made sense. No special messages, just a tune that rattles around in brain for hours on end. And here's the real bonus. You got to hear their vocalist, Marianna Previti. Where the Jumpers her found has got to be the real story. This is the only recording I know featuring her. Too bad, she's a keeper.

Well, Amazon doesn't provide a word counter and I'm afraid of running over. A grand swingin' group with a spectacularly recorded CD thanks to Mapleshade Records. A must listen.

This is a great album for anyone who likes great swing-blues music with a solid jazz feel. The arrangements are tight, the solos are first rate, and Marianna Previtti sings with her own style that builds on the wonderful jazz-blues singers of the past. Their version of Jump, Jive, and Wail is more than a match for the Louis Prima rendition featured on the recent Gap commercial. You can swing dance to most tunes and slow dance to the rest (as we do here around DC where the J Street Jumpers usually perform). Or just listen and enjoy swingin, wailing musicians perform the music so many of us love.

The recording lacks the full sound that their live performances have. Great talent, great songs, great fun. Maybe their next disc will capture their energy a little better. That said its a disc full of energy and group that grooves with this neo-swing thang rich in big band tradition but with a unpretentious style all their own.

This album is outstanding, due mainly to the vocal stylings of the great Marianna Previti. This three-time WAMA Wammie award-winning singer proves without a doubt that DC jazz is hottest in the world. Buy it and you'll soon learn what everyone else already knows: Marianna Previti is the Queen of Swing!!

I was walking down the street in Washington DC and they were playing on a street corner outside of a record store. Not only were they performing, but the crowd spontaneously started doing the Lindy and the like (I mean those who actually knew how to) It was a great lunch hour encounter! They are a band local to Washington (J street is their "home" in DC) The lead singer demonstrated more depth live than on the CD, but still a great recording. I gave away the first one I bought so now I have to buy another!

Was out for my morning hike out in Runyon Canyon and KLON here in the LA area played the second cut off this thing. I was haunted by the voice of the singer, really unusual. Can't wait to hear the rest of it!

Most people don't know this... but this is actually a cover of a Louis Jordan hit best known for its lampoon in a 1946 cartoon: Tom & Jerry's 'Solid Serenade'. I have fond memories of the scene where Tom is serenading some pussycat with this little ditty, only to have Jerry foil his plans. To hear it recreated so wonderfully is quite a kick.

OK, let's face it. This isn't the greatest swing cd in the world. But it ain't bad. And it gets better every time you listen to it. There are a few clinkers here and there, but hey, thanks what the "skip track" button is for.