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The Snapdaddys: Snappy Hour
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Several elements make this recording "snappy," as billed. For one thing, the nine original tunes (out of eleven total) are tuneful and substantive. They were all written by Stan Ayeroff, a wonderful guitarist and arranger who assembled his "musical dream team" for this release. The Snapdaddys include Sid Page, whose violin is sweet and blessedly on pitch; Brad Dutz, who makes creative and whimsical use of percussion and mallets; and Dave Stone, a fine first-call bassist.
The playing here is uniformly expert, tight and swinging, with an overall relaxing, happifying effect, even on bluesy tunes like "Midnight Blue," a film noir-ish showcase for Dan Higgins's expressive tenor. Another highlight is the group's tongue-in-cheek take on "Night and Day," which blows the dust off the overdone tune.
In sum, this gem of a disc is so mood-altering that it's nearly pharmaceutical. Snappy Hour is highly recommended for the winter blahs and other seasonal ailments.
Track Listing
Zander's Dream; Leslie Leaps In; Fandango for Django; Hopeful Hearts; Brave Enough for Love; Emily Jo; It Don't Mean a Thing; Gypsy Strut; Midnight Blue; Night and Day; Opus Groupus.
Personnel
Stan Ayeroff: acoustic guitars; Sid Page: jazz violin; Dan Higgins: soprano & tenor saxophones, flute, clarinet; Dave Stone: acoustic bass; Brad Dutz: percussion, vibes, marimba; Leslie Lashinsky: bassoon (6).
Album information
Title: Snappy Hour | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Refined Records
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