Album Notes

Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys celebrate's their 25th anniversary as a performing with a new CD release entitled "SILVER". The CD is a culmination of nine months work at the Nevessa Studio on Woodstock, NY and features their new six piece, three horn sound with a wealth of the classic swing, rhythm & blues and early rock material that has defined their sound since their beginning. As one of the of Albany, New Yorks' Capital District's most popular nightclub, concert and private function bands, they are a vital element in the area's cultural fabric. They have also spread their talent in regular performances all along the East Coast from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, DC, where they headlined a show at the famed John F. Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts. They have also traveled very successfully internationally, having twice toured Russia and Finland to rave reviews.

The HALCYON DAILY REVIEW » Silver -Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys By Dante Murphy

Some folks really know how to throw a party. Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys, a sextet from Albany, NY, throws themselves a 25th anniversary party that is a testament to the longevity of the great music they cover. Blending the best in small-combo music from the Swing Era forward, Silver is a gold-medal collection of great dance music delivered by fellas at the top of their game.

Slim Gaillard's "Palm Springs Jump", first released way back in 1942, is as fresh and hot as ever, featuring sweet vocal harmonies from the band and tight, crisp arrangements. The horn section of trumpeter Riff Baxter and sax-man Cliff Lyons and Paul Evoskevich toss the melody around like a hot potato, each taking the last higher and hotter to a crescendo.

That energy and verve is all over this collection of 13 classics, from the ever-infectious Louis Prima & Sam Butera classic "Be Mine (Little Baby)" to a horn-driven rendition of Nat King Cole's "Hit That Jive, Jack". Baxter really shines here, and the band's polished vocal harmony is once again featured.

Latin fans will enjoy the inclusion of Dean Martin's version of "Sway", one of two classics from Dino—the other being a nice cover of "Ain't That a Kick in the Head", whose only fault is that it isn't sung by Dino himself. But that doesn't make the song any less enjoyable, nor does the absence of Gene Krupa dampen the energy of "Drum Boogie".

The album also includes two great doo-wop numbers, a salsa-fied version of The Coasters' "Three Cool Cats" and a brassy take on Frankie Lymon's "Buzz Buzz Buzz". Mixed in among the hits of the Swing and Swinger eras is "Late in the Evening", a catchy calypso courtesy of Paul Simon. So no matter what tickles your fancy, get ready to smile.