The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Brian Setzer Orchestra, Brian Setzer

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 1994)
• Original Release Date: 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hollywood Records
• ASIN: B000000OD6
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,491 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Retro Swing

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Brian Setzer has been infatuated with '50s fashions ever since he launched the Long Island, New York, rockabilly trio the Stray Cats in the early '80s. Now, however, his '50s fanaticism has taken an unexpected left turn into the big-band pop-jazz of Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. The Brian Setzer Orchestra reintroduces the former Stray Cat as the crooner, guitarist and leader of a 17-piece horn band. Nonetheless, there's more to this project than the usual Harry Connick Jr. or Linda Ronstadt nostalgia exercise. For one thing, Setzer brings the guitar out of the big-band background to become a lead instrument, not just to imitate jazz horn lines but to add jump-blues and rockabilly licks to the mix. Although Setzer sings numbers associated with Cole and Bobby Darin--as well as some originals in the Sinatra style--the album is less interesting when it's paying tribute to big-band crooning than when it's mixing that genre with early rock & roll. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth 10 Stars!, August 7, 1998

By A Customer

The first time I played this cd it became an instant favorite of mine. I always enjoyed Brian Setzer's work with the Stray Cats and now he is even better with his rockin' swing band! Whether singing old classic standards or his own tunes;the guy can really get into it. Other than his 3 albums he also did a great job on the "Jingle All The Way" soundtrack. Hope he puts out a new cd every year,he leaves you wanting more more more!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulously retro album with guitar front and center!, September 6, 2002

By	Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Brian Setzer, late of the 1980s band Stray Cats, has come up with some great 1950s big-band sounds on "The Brian Setzer Orchestra." He takes a 19-piece band--complete with saxophones, trumpets, piano, great drums, and everything else--and adds in electric guitar. The effect is, well, electrifying. The guitar jump-starts the classics he covers here and adds a modern sound to the tunes he's penned himself.

Stand-outs on this album include "Ball and Chain," a Setzer tune that turns the tables on the usual "guy feels tied down by the woman" set-up and makes the guy yearning for more commitment from his lover. "Good-Rockin' Daddy" has a rockabilly feel with swaying trumpet work and singing by Setzer that clearly shows he's having a grand time. "September Skies" has lovely strings and a moonlight-over-the-ocean atmosphere to it. The guitar work here is restrained and delicate, and adds a great deal to the somewhat tropical feel of the song. "Brand New Cadillac" starts off with a "Theme from Peter Gunn" feel--the song just SOUNDS like big trouble and is great fun. Setzer's surprisingly jaunty version of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" is a genuine treat--I'd only ever heard this song done in a sort of mournful, yearning way, but he turns it into an upbeat delight.

Setzer is not possessed of the greatest voice for big-band work. It's a little thin on the upper register and not always rich enough to stand up to the enormous sound of the band--but he does well enough, and that's good enough here for what turns out to be a surprisingly wonderful album.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr Seltzer- if not the king of Blues, surely a Crown Prince!, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

I bought this a month early for my husband's birthday. I couldn't wait to give it to him and I am glad that I didn't-- we had a Brian Seltzer weekend and this is a fantastic CD! I can't say that any CD is better-- he poured his love and talent into each one, this no exception.

I am six months pregnant and my BABY loves this. If I move to the music, he doesn't and if I don't move, he rocks! The music is great to dance to and improves coordination because it is easy to pick up the beat. His background singers are great and blend well. It's amazing.

I know very little about music, but I know what I like and this is it!