Album Notes

For years The Feetwarmers have been thrilling audiences as a fixture on the East Coast music scene. Specializing in early jazz, swing, rhythm 'n' blues, and original works, the New York City-based little big band features a line-up of stellar musicians including Stan Harrison on alto and soprano sax, Steve Elson on tenor sax and clarinet, Peter Zummo on trombone, John Benthal on guitar and banjo, Dennis Masuzzo on bass, Bill Ruyle on drums, Jean Morrison on vocals, and Bill McClelland, piano, vocals and arrangements. A special feature of the band is the re-creation for small ensemble of many outstanding horn charts from the twenties through the fifties. Described by The New York Times as playing with "an easy, swinging vitality," The Feetwarmers bring a driving energy and genuine excitement to this classic American popular music.

The band's new CD, Centrifugal Swing, is a compilation of their best recordings from recent years. Included are standards and rarities from their huge book of great material, all performed with The Feetwarmers' trademark virtuosity and spirit. Included are Duke Ellington's powerhouse "Old Man Blues," Fats Waller's classic "Lounging at the Waldorf," the r'n'b knockout Quiet Whiskey, McClelland's own beautiful ballad "Later Than Now," and 10 other gems.

The Feetwarmers wide repertoire of more that 200 songs classics tunes by many jazz and r 'n' b greats including Ellington, Waller, Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Lunceford, Louis Jordan, Billy Strayhorn, Isham Jones, James P. Johnson, Don Redman, Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris, as well as songwriters including Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and many originals from the pen of founder and leader McClelland.

The Feetwarmers have performed at clubs, festivals and concerts througout the country including downtown Manhattan's new "River to River Fetival," many appearances at the Bottom Line, Swing 46, Tramps, TV and radio including NBC, Cinemax and WNYC-FM, numerous colleges including Columbia and Princeton University, the NY Swing Dance Society, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Partnership, the South Street Seaport, World Trade Center, Windows on the World, the Bessie Dance Awards, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Dance USA, Staten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the University Settlement and many, many others.

Individually, band members have played with an amazing variety of great musicians and groups including Joe Williams, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Radiohead, Chico Hamilton, Joe Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Linda Ronstadt, Frank Foster, David Bowie, Regina Belle, David Sanborn, Charles Earland, the Borneo Horns, Boz Scaggs, Conjunto Classico and John Hicks.