The New Wonders’ Steppin’ Out is out with thirty-nine minutes of delight and ten tracks of marvelous melodies!
After observing hints of this imminent project since the spring of 2023, it was an immense joy when Turtle Bay Records announced the New Wonders’ album release in early April of 2024. I was among those on the online pre-order list, and the CD was delivered immediately. Since the day of its arrival, I’ve played it repeatedly on my little Sony stereo to the point of realization on why I personally ought to stick to these compact discs rather than the classic shellac/vinyl records: I would undoubtedly overuse the grooves! (But if you’re a record collector, Turtle Bay Records also offers their novelty vinyl edition.)
In terms of the overall style of the music, a single band from the Jazz Age cannot be examined in identical comparisons because the New Wonders positively achieved its apex of originality. And how! Iterating that, both the performance and original arrangements do not duplicate another band but rather replicate the quality and atmosphere of the era, especially the New York hot jazz scene. Mr. Andy Schumm’s composition, “Half-Seas Over,” captures unique characteristics that are excellently apt for the hot jazz genre, with an Arthur Schutt-style piano playing. Mr. Mike Davis’ nine arrangements of the pre-existing songs are also splendid.
Applying some limited knowledge on the preserved fundamentals of their spirited style, I certainly hear influences from the scores of the California Ramblers, Red Nichols’ combos, Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra, and Bix Beiderbecke & His Gang. Four tracks are instrumental and six include wonderful vocals, of which three feature bandleader Mr. Mike Davis’ solos; two have a duet of Mr. Davis and Mr. Ricky Alexander; and another, “My Blue Heaven,” displays an augmented Rhythm Boys-type quartet consisting of Mr. Davis, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Jay Rattman, and Mr. Colin Hancock.
As another contributing factor to Steppin’ Out, the camaraderie among the talented band members is extraordinary. The structure of the New Wonders is organic with each supportive voice being exceptional yet not overpowering nor isolated. In terms of the instruments, the septet includes a front line of bandleader Mr. Davis on his cornet; Mr. Alexander on reeds; and Mr. Josh Holcomb on the trombone. The rhythm section consists of Mr. Jared Engel on the banjo; Mr. Rattman on the melodic bass saxophone; Mr. Schumm on the piano and cornet; and Mr. Hancock on the drums and cornet. If you haven’t listened to the recordings yet, please do! I leave many of my comments absent because there is no need to write all about the recordings themselves. They are meant to be listened to, indeed!
The repertoire pleasantly reflects the band’s tour to Bern, Switzerland, in October of 2021. Remarkably, I was familiar with this assortment back then due to Mr. Emrah Erken’s YouTube channel, Atticus Live, in which he documented their live concerts at Marian’s Jazzroom during the tour. The videos of the band under the title, Mike Davis’ New York Classic Seven, performed a mix of arrangements from the original New Wonders’ debut album (songs like “I’d Rather Cry Over You,” “I Need Lovin’,” and “Boneyard Shuffle”) and those that foreshadowed Steppin’ Out (“Do, Do, Do,” “My Melancholy Baby,” and “My Gal Sal”). While my ultimate favorite from this album cannot be drawn out precisely, my top three picks are firstly, “My Fate Is in Your Hands,” a seldom heard/performed yet lovely Fats Waller tune; secondly, “Half-Seas Over,” an original Schumm special; and lastly, “Love Will Find a Way,” an all-around enjoyable and poignant ditty.
Furthermore, the recognition for its paramount audio goes to both the studio engineers and the musicians. Turtle Bay Records’ recordings are reputably high-quality, but one of the unique factors of Steppin’ Out’s fidelity lies in the assessment of microphone placements. A combination of mics was applied, utilizing a centralized room microphone. This captures the fine ambiance of the room whilst distributing a balanced style of a broad live concert (which contains reverb) and an intimate individual microphone set-up (which tends to possess a dry, disjointed disposition). I give credit to the Turtle Bay Records videos on Instagram that show Mr. Davis explaining the acoustics for the given knowledge. Otherwise, I would have been nearly clueless on the fascinating audio process of Steppin’ Out. Additionally, Mr. Colin Hancock composed a brief booklet of delicate details and elaborations behind each track, so yours truly possesses merely a few musical analyses to share. It is a well-constructed elucidation of the contextualization of the musical elements. Presented in an elegant, enclosed liner note, this piece of excellent writing can be enjoyed as well by those owning the physical copy—more reasons to treat yourself, family, or a friend to this album!
Whether for pure enjoyment, relaxation, jazzercise, or a New Wonders collection, Steppin’ Out is an essential album and will surely prove to become an unfading novelty classic in the years to come.
