Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Sheridan and his Dream Band: Get Rhythm in Your Feet

208

John Sheridan and his Dream Band: Get Rhythm in Your Feet

By

Sign in to view read count
John Sheridan and his Dream Band: Get Rhythm in Your Feet
If you like swing music, you ought to check out John Sheridan and his Dream Band. Get Rhythm in Your Feet is the third recording from this spirited octet that can boast of excellent soloists, elegant arrangements, and a chemistry that could only have been cooked up in a very hip kitchen. Vocalist Becky Kilgore has charm, technique, and a deft sense of rhythm that is fluidly in synch with the band. John Sheridan is a gifted pianist, arranger, and bandleader; the stylistic cohesiveness of the Dream Band has much to do with his range of talents. This band has an instantly recognizable sound that suggests jazz history is in the making.



Notable soloists on Get Rhythm In Your Feet include Randy Reinhart on cornet, Brian Ogilvie on tenor sax, and Ron Hockett on clarinet. Reinhart plays with a brash confidence that is truly masterful in either a swing or New Orleans mode; he can be depended on to turn up the burners. Ogilvie seems to be growing with each Dream Band recording, as his long, thoughtful solo on the ballad “A Handful of Stars” attests. On all three Dream Band recordings, Ron Hockett, on clarinet, has been a consistently intelligent and subtle soloist with a beautiful tone. Russ Phillips does a good job subbing for the trombone wizard Dan Barrett, and the rhythm section as usual is superb. On this recording the quartet of pianist John Sheridan, guitarist Reuben Ristrom, bassist Phil Flanigan, and drummer Ed Metz, Jr. keeps the music alert, lively, and flexible. Metz ably subs for the regular drummer, the accomplished Jeff Hamilton.



Vocalist Becky Kilgore joined the band on its second, classic recording ( Dream Band, Make Me Dream Some More ) and is featured on half of the sixteen tracks on this recording. She is emotionally attuned to the band, with an upbeat, off-handed ease to her phrasing. The instrumentalists accompany her with vigor and grace; do check out Sheridan’s piano comping throughout. In short, this is an extraordinary band that has all its pieces in place, a band that truly deserves attentive and repeated listening. Highly recommended.

Track Listing

Stop, Look and Listen; All the Cats Join In; Indian Summer; I Love My Baby; I Was Doing All Right; A Gal in Calico; Humpty Dumpty Heart; Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea; People Like You and Me; I

Personnel

John Sheridan, leader, arranger, pianist; Randy Reinhart, cornet; Russ Phillips, trombone; Brian Ogilvie, tenor sax; Ron Hockett, clarinet; Reuben Ristrom, guitar; Phil Flanigan, bass; Ed Metz, Jr.; and Becky Kilgore, vocalist on eight of sixteen tracks.

Album information

Title: Get Rhythm in Your Feet | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Arbors Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.