After Hours Swing Session

Duke Robillard

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 1992)
• Original Release Date: May 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder Select
• ASIN: B000000358
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,307 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Recorded in a single overnight session, this delightful 1992 CD spotlights bluesman Duke Robillard's other forte: authentic '40s and '50s small-group swing. Duke's vocal style is closer to that of his idol T-Bone Walker than to the elán of Billie Holiday or Nat Cole, whose tunes he covers. But Duke's playing and off-the-cuff arrangements get to the heart of classic swing's simmering emotionalism. "Albi Ain't Here" is especially rich in the music's signifiers: a sloe-eyed muted cornet solo, Rich Latille's graceful clarinet, and of course, Duke's pure-toned guitar. Robillard's solos unwind with casual elegance, darting between blues and jazz as the best swingers always have. Guitarists will note the authenticity of his rhythm tracks--played on an acoustic 1939 Epiphone Deluxe archtop. For more, dig up Swing, a rewarding prequel Duke cut with saxist Scott Hamilton's combo in 1986. --Ted Drozdowski

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
The former Roomful of Blues guitarist (now with the Fabulous Thunderbirds) has had a void of a solo career. His Pleasure Kings are eminently forgettable (snub the 1988 Rounder CD compilation Rockin' Blues), and his 1986 jazz album entitled Swing impressed only when saxophonist Scott Hamilton took flight. Yes, Robillard is a technically gifted player with a refined taste in music, but, as in this antiquarian jazz-with- hints-of- blues session, a certain wont of iciness in his phrasing and tone always makes for monotony. Furthermore, his ever- empty singing now has the earmarks of an affected Harry Connick wannabe, and the competent jazz stylings of his After Hours Swing Session friends cannot resuscitate war- horses like "Sweet Georgia Brown". -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swinging band, August 18, 2001

By	Paul Bogiatto (Australia) - See all my reviews

This is one my favourite CD's. I grows on you slowly. There is a interesting mix of instrumental and vocal tracks that all envoke a late thirties smokey jazz club ambience. The material is presented in a fresh and alive fashion. Sweet George Brown swings at a fast burning swinging pace, Albi Ain't Here is a slow swinging blues while The Trouble With me is You is a light pleasant tune. The music has a mixture of material, instruments, arrangements and tasty solos that are always refreshing to hear.