HOT Club Of Cowtown are a pleasing anomaly in the modern music world. Their self-styled melting pot of hot jazz, western swing and gipsy music has been quietly winning over fans and critics alike since the mid-1990s.

But don’t call them nostalgic when they play Pocklington Arts Centre tomorrow. “We are definitely a contemporary band,” says vocalist/guitarist Whit Smith. “We are deeply inspired by music from the past, but we try to change the language of that to make it more contemporary. I think you can say a lot more these days that maybe you couldn’t get away with back then as well.”

Beginning their career busking in San Diego’s Balboa Park as a two-piece featuring Smith and vocalist/violinist Elana James, the band are now completed by bassist Jake Erwin, who can be heard on Hot Club’s new album.

Their first studio set since 2002, Wishful Thinking was released last week on Proper Records and Smith believes it is their best yet.

“It is a landmark, I think it sounds the nicest and the smoothest of all our records,” he says. “We took more time with it, so the production is great. We recorded it over three periods of time, the summer, the fall and a little bit of winter. So it’s probably a lot more relaxed and smooth sounding.”

It seems like the recording and rehearsing process will have a positive impact on their live show, too. “The playing is also better,” says Smith. “With the styles of music we play on the record, well, we’ve been practising a lot.”

The fun, fancy-free and definitely danceable sounds of Hot Club Of Cowtown are sure to thrill audiences on their 14-date tour.

“You’ll always get a lot of energy and spirit when we play live,” says Smith. “It’s never the same show twice, we’ll play the songs from our new record, but also stuff from our other records, and whatever comes to our head at the time. It’s music that’s made for people to like.”

Hot Club last swung into York last September, and Smith is quick to praise the British music scene for giving the band mainstream coverage, not something they are used to, given their style.

“It’s an honour and we’re lucky,” says Smith, “I mean, we’ve stayed pretty faithful to what we do for ten years.

“A lot of DJs in England have more of an opportunity to push and play what they like. We’ve benefited from them, from the music community in England.”

* Hot Club Of Cowtown play Pocklington Arts Centre tomorrow at 8pm. Tickets: £14 on 01759 301 547.

- Arj Singh