Shake-em-Up Jazz Band: The Boy In The Boat

The latest Shake-em-Up Jazz Band CD, The Boy In The Boat, was released just prior to their second European tour which included Brittany, France; Herrang, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Edinburgh, UK. The band’s members are Marla Dixon (tp, v), Chloe Feoranzo, (cl, v), Haruka Kikuchi (tb, v), Molly Reeves (gtr, v), Julie Schexnayder (bs, v), Dizzy Incirlioglu (wash, v). The selections include some interesting arrangements with strong guitar and bass influences. The playlist of 12 tunes has renditions of mostly well-known standards made famous by not only the Mills Brothers and Louis Armstrong, but Bessie Smith and Spike Jones. “Say Si Si” has Marla on vocals as Chloe weaves that reed in and out of the lyrics. “The Boy In The Boat” – a 1928 tune originally recorded by the Charlie Johnson Orchestra, it’s not a standard instrumental, but with the clarinet intro and Marla’s “wah-wah” sounds, it is a delightful number. “Nevertheless” these ladies never sounded so good with the guitar lead and Marla, Molly, & Chloe performing in multi-part harmony ala The Mills Brothers. “Salty Dog” – here Haruka sings a half-English, half-Japanese version with Molly on guitar and Dizzy on washboard; then the rest of the band comes in while Haruka acknowledges she “loves New Orleans the best.” (Haruka’s infant son, Shouta, accompanied the group on their European