Bridgetown Sextet - Functionizin' [CD]

In the realm of "'20s-style jazz," one of the hottest bands in the land hails from Portland, Oregon. Bridgetown Sextet stomps, struts, swings, and moans through 11 top tunes of the era, including selections by Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, Fats Waller, Count Basie, and even Jimmie Rodgers! The music is fun, hot, danceable, and refreshingly devoid of any caricature or corn. As two-time Grammy nominee Colin Hancock says in his liner notes to this recording: "These cats are not dabbling in the music but are experts... [they] are simply fantastic, and this record has the receipts to show it!" Bridgetown Sextet is actually a septet (but "sextet" sounds... well... sexier!) comprised of Andrew Oliver (piano), Sam Dechenne (trumpet and cornet), David Evans (tenor sax and clarinet), John Moak (trombone), Doug Sammons (guitar, banjo, vocals), Eric Gruber (string bass), and Tyson Stubelek (drums). For their debut Rivermont album, they are joined by special guests Dee Settlemier (vocal), Garner Pruitt (cornet), and Chris Shuttleworth (tuba). Functionizin' is a musical party you'll want to re-live often. 11 tracks. 41 minutes.