Burgamy-Hancock New Originators DOWN IN HONKY TONK TOWN
BURGAMY-HANCOCK NEW ORIGINATORS
DOWN IN HONKY TONK TOWN
Turtle Bay Records
Colin Hancock, cornet; Hunter Burgamy, banjo/vocals; Robin Rapuzzi, drums; Tom Saunders, tuba; Kris Tokarski, piano; Dennis Litchman, clarinet/tenor saxophone; Charlie Halloran & Jens Lindgren, trombone; James Evans, clarinet/C-melody saxophone.
Looking for some nostalgic music? This album reaches back to the beginning roots of New Orleans music, the roaring twenties and 1930s jazz, when speakeasies and honky-tonk hangouts were all the rage. Colin Hancock and Hunter Burgamy have put a group together to celebrate this unique and energized music, inspired by legendary pioneers like the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Jelly Roll Morton, and King Oliver.
You can hear it on their recently released single from the album called “Baby Brown.” The band players trade solo time with gusto, celebrating clarinet, trombone, piano, cornet, the banjo and a free-styling tuba who does the work of a bass player. This tune is full of joy and momentum.
The music is provided by nine innovative musicians who have a mutual love for this early jazz style. These tunes recall the days of the Charleston dance, and the smooth steps of the foxtrot. There were no gym shoes or sneakers on the dance floor. Men wore leather soled shoes so they could easily slide and pivot to the music. The three-piece suit was in style with matching jacket, vest and trousers that were “drainpipe” style or tapered. The young college men wore more wide-leg trousers called “Oxford Bags” that allowed them to move and gyrate freely on the dancefloor. Most everybody donned hats, especially fedoras. A more casual look were the flat caps or newsboy hats. Women too wore hats and pleated skirts that could flounce and move when they were at the popular dance halls.
The Burgamy-Hancock New Originators continue their refurbishing of this old music with a tune called “Cryin’ for the Carolines” that slows the pace and features banjo player and vocalist Hunter Burgamy. The tune slow-shuffles across my listening room reminding me of the “Minnie the Moocher” days of Cab Calloway. It’s a Tin Pan Alley type of tune written in the 1930s representing the hot and sweet bands back-in-the-day. I enjoyed this tune.
Thanks to Hancock and Burgamy, you’ll hear tunes by Fats Waller, Joe Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton. The seeds for this project grew from two musicians who met years ago at the New York Hot Jazz Festival. Hancock and Burgamy became fast friends, sharing a love for this seldom heard music. Hancock brings his passion for historical research and rare recordings. Burgamy brings a focus on storytelling and arrangements that connect with their audiences. For example, the title track, “Down in Honky Tonk Town” sums up this album’s spirit. Their joy is contagious. The rhythmic driven tunes encourage dancing and finger-popping. They remind us of a time long gone, but not forgotten.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
