Rose Room IT’S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME
ROSE ROOM
IT’S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME
Independent Label
Seonaid Aitken, violin/vocals/string arrangements; Tam Gallagher, rhythm guitar/vocals; Jimmy Moon, double bass; Conor Smith, solo guitar/backing vocals; Kristan Harvey, violin 2; Patsy Reid, viola; Alice Allen, cello; Artek Siwak, accordion; Owen Gunnell, vibraphone; Bryan Gear, fiddle.
This year, “Rose Room” celebrates the 15th anniversary of their Glasgow-based Scottish quartet. They have firmly established themselves as Scotland’s premier Gypsy Jazz ensemble. From the very first tune on this album, “Joseph Joseph” the group’s traditional arrangement radiates joy and Django influenced jazz that was once so popular back in the 1930s ‘Hot Club’ era.
Violinist and singer, Seonaid Aitken is the featured vocalist on the album’s title tune, “It’s Been A Long, Long Time,” a popular 1945 hit record composed by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Aitken was voted “Best Vocalist” at the Scottish Jazz Awards of both 2017 and 2018. The entire ensemble is made up of award-winning musicians. They have received worldwide attention, and many fans have waited impatiently for this album to be released. The last release by “Rose Room” was back in 2015 with their album called “The High Life.”
This album features the “Rose Room” signature swing, spotlighting Artek Siwak on accordion as a special guest during Aitken’s vocals on the jazz standard “I Wish You Love.” This is followed by “On the Alamo” with the violin soaring in beautiful ways during an arrangement that reminds me of 1920 and 1930 jazz. These musicians have picked out the repertoire, referencing some of their favorite compositions. They do a lovely job of presenting the Django Reinhardt composition, “Nuages” and featuring Owen Gunnell on vibraphone. I also enjoyed the twin-fiddle arrangement of “Lady Be Good” played at a moderate tempo with a shuffle guitar pushing the tune forward. Fiddler Bryan Gear joins Aitken’s violin to present this song ‘cover’ of a popular American standard. It captures a Western-world, slow swing groove, mixed creatively with Rose Room’s Scottish tradition. Three quarters of the way through, the musicians break into an up-tempo, energized rendition, doubling the time and spreading joy around my listening room. Rose Room presents an album of gypsy jazz and pretty jazz standard ballads infused with their Scottish perspective.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
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