WITH inspired renditions of a dozen standards, plus a ribald hidden track, Continental Stomp is an entertaining showcase for the trio's boisterous ensemble playing, Violinist Elana Fremerman's dusky vocals cast a spell on Deed I Do and I Can't Give You Anything But Love, while guitarist Whit Smith's inventive phrasing is highlighted throughout, notably on Pennies From Heaven.
Double bass player Jake Erwin is a one-man rhythm section, providing thunderous slap-bass solos on, among others, Chinatown and After You've Gone. Continental Stomp is the trio's fifth album and first live recording. Good as it is, it only hints at the tremendous energy the three hot jazz and western swing musicians generate on stage, as witnessed last month at the National Centre for Early Music in York. Jools Holland was so impressed by their initial performance on his TV show last October he booked them for his The Hootnanney show to celebrate the New Year.
Updated: 10:00 Thursday, May 13, 2004
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