All Things Swamp

Dressed

Little Village Foundation label

California musicians often yearn to play the unique, flavored beats of New  Orleans music. All Things Swamp is a circle of professionals who come together on their days off to play that funky music for their own enjoyment. These nine musicians found common ground, like gumbo and jambalaya, once you develop a taste for the flavors, anything else seems almost  boring. “Dressed” was recorded, mixed and mastered by Christopher “Kid” Andersen at his Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California.

Aaron Lington, is a Grammy award winning saxophonist, and Director of Jazz Studies at San Jose State University; he has been recognized multiple times in Downbeat Magazine’s Critic’s Poll, Lington is featured on baritone sax. Luke Kirley Helicon comes from a long line of plumbers, which might explain why he plays trombone and tuba. Tim Hockenberry, trombone and vocals has a voice reminiscent of Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, and Tom Waits. Dillon O’Brian plays piano and is a singer working in records, film, TV, and advertising; he has worked with many artists including Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill, Shakira, Don Was, Joe Cocker, The Temptations and others, he is also  the leader of The Deductions, a modern day wrecking crew, who perform every Friday night at The Write-Off Room. Dean Parks, tenor sax and guitar has worked with Sonny and Cher, and recorded with Steely Dan, Michael  Jackson, Bread, and Gordon Lightfoot. Gary Novak is a session drummer having worked with George Benson, Chick Corea, Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton, and others. Brian Switzer ia a trumpet player currently touring with Bob Weir. Dan Gordon, bass and tenor trombone, is known as the beer guy, having founded the Gordon Biersch Brewery. Last is Jim Pugh, organ who played with The Robert Cray Band and founder of the Little Village  Foundation.

“Dressed” opens with “Sidewalk Strut” an infectious instrumental written by  Steve Masakowski, with trumpet, trombone, baritone sax, tuba and drums  originally performed by The New Orleans Nightcrawlers in 1995. “Bah-Duey- Duey”, is from Sammie “Big Sam” Williams recorded in 2006 by Big Sam’s Funky Nation.

“Dancing Machine” written by Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, and Dean Parks, features some great drumming from Gary Novak; the song was first recorded in 1973 by The Jackson 5. “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” written by pianist Joe  Zawinul of The Cannonball Addereley Quintet was first recorded in 1967,  although another instrumental you can hear the words “you knock me off my feet, there is no one in this whole world that will love me like you do”.

“Rocking Chair” written by Hoagy Carmichael is the first song actually sung, originally sung by Matt Munro in 1962, the song is fabulously sung by Tim  Hockenberry. “Blues for Ben” from Luca Fredericksen was first recorded by  Stanton Moore in 1998. “How Much Fun” by Robert Palmer, originally waxed by him in 1974, is sung here by Dillon O’Brian, featured is the lyric “find out  how much fun we can have alive…feel the beat in your feet”. The closer  “Take it to the Street” was originally recorded by the Rebirth Brass Band in  1992.

The nine musicians in All Things Swamp, found common ground in the  music of New Orleans, a burbling cauldron of rhythm, rhyme, and harmony.  “Dressed” pursues an infectious, intoxicating voodoo fever dream of beignets and bayous, steamboats and alligators, Mardi Gras and jazz funerals, Bon  temps rouler.

Richard Ludmerer

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