*NOTE TO COLLECTORS: This album is the ONLY release in existence featuring Star Search Winner - VICKIE NATALE, and yes she is heavily featured! ***NOW ON SALE FOR MONTH OF AUGUST, ONLY $10!!!!****
The finest and busiest swing band to arrive on the New York Swing scene, The Yalloppin' Hounds derive their name from a running gag among the musicians of the Illinois Jacquet Big Band.
One day at a French concert, Jacquet poked fun at another well-known Swing band from New York by referring to them as a bunch of "yallopping hounds", so when the founding members, all Jacquet alumnus, got together to think up a name for their new swing band, the choice was obvious.
"We knew enough about each other already to hear a sound in our heads...and the sound was that of a bunch of barking dogs...." explains bandleader and saxophonist Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno.
The Yalloppin Hounds have the distinction of being the first band in the world to combine the elements of traditional Swing with Hip-Hop stylings, creating a unique and excitingly fresh hybrid.
The band, currently weighing in at seven pieces, sounds like a much bigger group, due to the tight section riffing by the horns, and the constant driving beat. Contrary to many early misconceptions, the Hounds ain't no rap crew; they are a group of musicians of the highest caliber and boy do they swing hard!
The group has already appeared, or is currently appearing at, the following New York City venues: Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center, Race For The Cure @ Central Park, 10-50 Swing Street, Swing 46, The Supper Club, Windows on the World, China Club, New York Swing Dance Society's Irving Plaza series, Swing Mania at Webster Hall, Rodeo Bar, Tatou, XIT, Louisiana Bar and Grill, No Moore, Lansky Lounge, El Flamingo, Jack's Joint, Don Hill's, Jittersauce Jam at LIFE, and for various Swing Societies and Colleges throughout the United States.
A key factor, and perhaps the most important of all, is the wealth of original material brought forth by the Hounds.
With a focus on material with decidedly less trite subject matter than one would come to expect from today's Neo-Swing, Composer, Lyricist, and Arranger G-Clef chooses to portray real-life scenarios more-so than a retro tone. Strong, catchy melodies, as well as a hard-driving rhythm are the vibe, sparked by the raw abandon of the Hounds.
G-Clef has penned songs that will instantly impress as sure-fire hits; In New York, and now in other places, swing kids of all ages can be found regularly humming and singing the tunes!
The Hounds have also received their share of accolades of late. They had the distinction of not only placing 2nd as Best Band in the 2001 Swing Awards (www.swingawards.com) , but also won the award for Best Song of 2000 with "Oops, My Bad", which has become a huge underground hit.
"Oops, My Bad" was also recently featured in a major independent movie called "Dead Pet" distributed by Hollywood Video as a part of their First Rites series.
The song "Hot Dog", also a major underground dance hit, was chosen by the Planned Parenthood organization to advertise their first ever line of condoms.
Read more...