Casey MacGill & the Spirits of Rhythm
Jump
The best cd of the 1990's swing revival with great harmony vocals, original tunes, and arrangements.
Casey MacGill
Casey MacGill writes and performs music that swings. A classic Hollywood character in appearance and style, MacGill plays boogie-woogie, swing, and stride piano - Fats Waller meets Fats Domino. Casey has developed a signature vocal sound; he has a way with a torch song, and enjoys the adventure of scat singing. MacGill's repertoire covers a range of material from the Gershwins to Leiber & Stoller to those low-down, dirty blues. He blows a lyrical cornet, but his most unique instrumental voice is a 6-string tenor ukulele.
Casey grew up in Southern California. As a member of "The Magic Mushroom", he and the band (including jazz singer Marilyn Scott) caravanned up to the legendary Monterey Pop Festival. Back in Pasadena, MacGill majored in music at Pasadena City College, and Cal State LA, studying with jazz greats Gary Foster, Warne Marsh, and Buddy Collette. At the famous folk club the Ice House, Casey's first 20's-30's band opened for Lily Tomlin. His interest in vintage American music was kindled by cartoonist and painter Robert Armstrong, which led to a long musical association with members of R.Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders. As a member of The Rubber Band, MacGill appeared on the Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson), and recorded for Atlantic Records. He also appeared on the infamous Gong Show.
In 1980, MacGill formed the fabulous 30's-style vocal trio, Mood Indigo, which appeared in the movies Frances and Swing Shift, toured in the US, Australia, and Japan. The band was a favorite of LA audiences, and enjoyed celebrity sit-ins Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, Martha Raye, and the Manhattan Transfer. At an intimate, but star-studded affair, a Mr. Fred Astaire spontaneously broke into a soft-shoe as the band gently vamped for the guests poolside.
After relocating to the Pacific Northwest, Casey played in many bands culminating with The Spirits of Rhythm. Their award-winning, still popular CD "Jump" became a classic of the 1990's swing-era, and has attracted fans all over the world. The CD caught the attention of director Lynn Taylor-Corbett, and catapulted MacGill to star in the Broadway show "Swing". Casey wrote songs for the show, and several tracks from the Jump CD were also included in the score. Swing was nominated for 5 Tonys, and the cast CD received a Grammy nomination.
Casey currently lives in Seattle, working with the vintage jazz vocal group, The Blue 4 Trio. The band includes bass player Matt Weiner (The Flying Neutrinos, The Asylum Street Spankers, The Hot Club of Cowtown, Matt Munisteri, Rani Arbo) and drummer Mike Daugherty (The Yes Yes Boys, Jo Miller and Her Burly Roughnecks, Evergreen Classic Jazz Band, Holotradband).
The band plays locally at The Pink Door (Pike Place Market), Salty’s/Alki, and many various events, parties, etc. The Blue 4 Trio also perform with "Swing" alumni Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas at Camp Savoy in London (2007 will be the 4th year), Festiv’ Alan near Toulouse, France, and the Edinburg Jazz Festival, Scotland.
Their cd Casey MacGill's Blue 4 Trio was released in June 2006, and can also be found on CD Baby.
Easy Listening: Ballroom