Album Notes

Harmonious Wail
Live on the Urban Theater
Reviewed by David McCarty

Has there ever been a time without Harmonious Wail, the Madison-based
string swing band driven to heights of Djangophilia by the mandolin stylings of Sims Delaney-Potthoff, his superbly gifted vocalist-wife Maggie and their all-purpose guitar man Tom Waselchuk? Through a series of brilliant CDs and countless live gigs across the US and around the world, The Wail has defined a fascinating rhythm of styles, truly all
swings considered, that has brought the gift of Gypsy jazz and mandolin swing to audiences eager for their unique sound and style.

On their first DVD, the band has taken a series of live performances done for a local TV program in Madison called Urban Theater and packaged them as a sort of retrospective review of the group between 2003 and 2006. Well-recorded and produced, the video performances sound great and are nicely done.

Ranging from February 2003 to September 2006, Live On The Urban Theater does a wonderful job showcasing the band’s signature sound and unique energy. Time and again, Maggie shows why she is one of the most gifted (and under-appreciated) jazz singers of this generation. Her sultry, sinuous voice, burnished by years of performing into a warm, honey-toned glory, simply radiates throughout these performances.

Sims somehow manages to look younger as the videos become newer and newer (you have to teach me that trick!), and his playing reverberates with wit and great ideas. A student of Jethro Burns, Sims beautifully creates inventive, compelling solo lines and rhythm accents on mandolin and tenor guitar.

As the resident guitarist, Waselchuk shows perhaps the most musical growth here, going from more basic rhythms and swing leads in the first video to a far richer, more sophisticated sound on the later shows. Wail has been instrumental in preaching the gospel of Gypsy jazz in the Midwest, hosting a wonderful annual Gypsy jazz festival in Madison and bringing in such luminaries as the Robin Nolan Trio for performances and workshops. Clearly, having spent time with great Gypsy jazz guitarists like Nolan, Stephane Wrembel, Kruno and Alfonso Ponticelli has enormously benefited Tom as a musician.

The material here covers many of the band’s best tunes, drawing from the Django Reinhardt library, but also bringing in Harlem-based swing styles and jump blues influences to create a unique ensemble sound that lays to rest any question whether vocals or mandolin belong in Gypsy jazz. Eschewing arbitrary labels is the band’s great strength, and these wonderful performances will give viewers who’ve never seen this talented, influential band the chance to see for themselves what the fuss is about. Students of swing mandolin will delight in Sims’ playing, and anyone who appreciates the great swing sounds of the 30s, 40s and beyond will find this DVD truly must-see TV. Wailingly recommended.

Song List: Perhaps; Last Days of Pompeii; Minor Swing; My Favorite Things; Moscow Nights; No Mama; Latcho Drom; St. Louis Blues; Chanson Pour Henri; Nothing But The Blues; Joi Du Vivre; People Stuff; Emmett’s Tune; Eat At Joe’s; Bossa Dorado; It Ain’t Right; I Like To Feel My Bones; Cou Cou; Squim Marimba; What About The Sugar; Bury Me; He’s Old, He’s Six; I Knew It Was Love; Medication www.wail.com