I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I have a soft spot for jazz in a Continental accent. And by that I mean the continent nearest me, Europe. It’s a reminder that jazz is perhaps the original global cultural phenomenon and—to English people as much as Americans—there’s something about those slurred vowels and clipped consonants that just oozes class.
The Shag Sharks hail from Valencia, Spain, sporting lineups from duo to septet. Their festival credits to date include their hometown’s Festival Mar i Jazz, Barcelona’s Shag Festival, and Innsbruck’s Alpine Jitterbugs, amongst others.
With a name like the Shag Sharks, you might expect all of this outfit’s output to be at a foot-blistering tempo. Fortunately for fans of a more relaxed dance (or listen, for that matter), there’s something on Coral Riff for every move and mood.
It’s the first full-length album from this exciting young band, who are known for their jazzy reimaginings of pop classics as they are for their rearrangements of swing songs. This album is all about the latter, with standards like “Them There Eyes,” “Lady Be Good,” and “Puttin’ On the Ritz” all appearing.
The first of these introduces Véronica Juan and her voice, which quavers delightfully while packing considerable punch and precision. As with other tracks, the interstitial solos aren’t brain-meltingly complex stu
