Search - Johnny Lewis :: Shuckin & Jivin

Good Jazz-Funk recording

William Jones | Rockville, MD USA | 12/23/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Two of the selections, "Cissy Strut" and "Them Changes", probably should not have been included on this CD, which compiles a long out of print lp and two "demo tape" quality songs. The aforementioned were used both to get jobs and to sell to conventioneers at the Red Lion Inn in Seatle (according to the liner notes). The sound is what you would expect from a hotel lounge with amateur recording equipment and the drummer is too showy and "busy". Of the other four tracks, recorded with a slightly different lineup, the sound is quite good, and the band is more fluid, more cohesive. The title track features a neat dynamic between the drummer and the conga player (if the congas were overdubbed-as some of the horn parts were-this was done very cleverly!). Johnny Lewis's soloing, on tenor and trombone, is also nice, as is the organ, and guitar. It's a good band. If you like boogaloo organ music, you should hear this. If you REALLY like boogaloo organ music, consider buying it."