Muon Music

C&M Online Media, Inc.
3905 Meadow Field Lane
Raleigh, NC 27606
for each CD, price includes shipping and handling

$11.00

Songs: Sweet Sue; When my Dreamboat; I'm Beginning To See The Light; Bill Bailey; Dead Man Blues; Shine; Georgia; Once In A While; Old Fashioned Love; Wildman Blues; Our Love Is Here To Stay; My Honey's Lovin' Arms; Black and Blue; Struttin' With Some Barbeque

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Sweet Sue

NEW!

The Tar River Swing Band

-Big Band

Recording: Holiday Favorites

$14.00

Songs: Jingle Bells, The Christmas Song, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Silent Night, Swingin' At Santa's Place, Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, Good King Wenceslas, Auld Lang Syne

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The Swing Era, which lasted from about 1935 to '45, began with the popularity of the Benny Goodman Band on radio and at ballrooms and theaters across the country, and faded out after World War II. Though times and tastes changed, the idea of the jazz big band persisted, and such groups remain a staple of jazz education and often a popular pastime in the local community.

Thus we have the Rocky Mount-based Tar River Swing Band, whose self-produced "Holiday Favorites" is one of the most tasteful Christmas big band albums to come along in years.

The 19-member group, led by baritone saxophonist John Sykes, needs no concessions in deference to its part-time, local status. It swings solidly, projects a tried-and-true big band sound rooted in Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Stan Kenton, and boasts strong soloists in each section. Like the Basie band, the Tar River band's rhythm section is light on its feet and yet powerful when power is needed.

The album opens with the Basie band arrangement of "Jingle Bells," with pianist Dave McAllister spinning a rollicking, Basie-like introductory chorus.

"The Christmas Song" introduces vocalist Carol Ingbretsen (with a hint of innocence and plenty of swing in her voice) and features a nostalgic trombone solo by Frank Bullard followed by the full trombone section. Bullard is heard again on a stirring, Kenton-like arrangement of "Silent Night." Ingbretsen appears again on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "White Christmas" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Trumpeter Art Barnes offers several thoughtful, harmonically advanced solos on the album. -- Owen Cordle, Jazz Critic, Raleigh N&O, Dec. 16, '07

Recording: Dick Gable's All Stars

Songs: I've Found a New Baby, Undecided, Rocking Chair, Bill Bailey, I Can't Give You Anything but Love, I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover, St. Louis Blues, Tin Roof Blues, Royal Garden Blues, Hindustan, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, When It's Sleepy Time Down South

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"The joys of Dixieland jazz polyphony are well known, from Louis Armstrong onward. This music is not regressive. Each generation adds something to it. But Dixieland's syncopation, phrasing, and traditional ensemble functions -- trumpet melody, clarinet decoration on top, trombone counterpoint the bottom--must remain true.

It's easy for amateurs to get this wrong. The music has been played badly with intentions as well as mocked, caricatured and stumbled through. But there's no substitute for the authenticity and integrity of a band such as Gable's. All its horn parts mesh smoothly. There's breathing room through all these lines. The rhythm section's accents are a kick: You will be raised to a new level of joy.

This is dance music for the heat as well as the feet. Or as Gable has been known to shout across the bandstand. "If you can't dance to that, you can't walk." -- Owen Cordle, jazz critic

Recording: Live at the Brownstone, Dec. 17, 1991

Songs: All of Me; Hoe Come You Do Me Like You Do; Closer Walk With Thee; When You're Smilin'; Caravan; Indiana; String of Pearls; Chinatown; Found A New Baby; Tin Roof Blues; Struttin' With Some Barbecue; Honeysuckle Rose; Avalon; Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans; What A Wonderful World; When The Saints Go Marching In

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Recording: Back Home Again with Jimmy Simpson, Vibes

Songs: Indiana; If I Had You; C Jam Blues; Bourbon St. Parade; Bye Bye Blues;Isle of Capri;Big Band Medley-In the Mood and One O'clock Jump; Swanee River; Lady Be Good; Sheik of Aribi; Sunny Side of the Street; When the Saints Go Marchin' In

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Recording: The OKEH Jazz Band at the 36th Parallel

Songs: Steamboat Stomp; Canal Street Blues; Once In a While; Backside Blues; Black and Blue; Washington and Lee Swing; Potato Head Blues; Honeysuckle Rose; Buddy's Habits; Royal Garden Blues; Fat Louie's Wake; Wolverine Blues; Atlanta Blues; Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me; Sage Hen Strut; That's A Plenty; Wild Man Blues; Panama; Apex Blues; Sidewalk Blues