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Husband and wife team Starla and Jimmy Queen are the driving
force behind the western swing band Jazzabillies. Jimmy (drums,
lead guitar, trumpet, trombone, sax piano, harmonica, vocals)
has performed with a host of top country names including Ray
Pennington, Waylon Jennings, Ray Price,
Sammi Smith along with many other star names. Starla (rhythm
guitar, vocals) was the finalist in the Jimmy Dean Country Showdown
and shared the stage with Johnny Bush and Curtis Potter. Other
members of the Jazzabillies include Dave Owen (upright bass,
vocals) who also has top musical credentials backing the likes
of George Morgan, Wanda Jackson, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams
Jnr, and a long list of other country legend performers. Kansas
Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame member Scotty Henderson has worked
with Charlie Daniels and Hank Thompson, while Fiddle Playing
Ernie Reed appears courtesy of  Mel
Tillis.
Show Me ideally showcases the
Jazzabillies sweeping musical capabilities with a fine selection
of numbers. In the 1940's Louis Jordan popularised the fun song
"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"
with the song being recorded by many different bands over the
years including Asleep At The Wheel. Released as their first
single from the album with Scotty on lead vocals, the Jazzabillies
give the number an easy style. Although well performed…I feel
the band could have played-up the fun side of the song a little
more. Opening the album the Jazzabillies ideally set the mood
with Starla taking lead on "Turn
Me Loose and Let Me Swing" leaving the  listener
in no doubt as to what this CD is all about, fully explaining
swing with extracts of "San Antonio Rose" and "Take
The A Train" incorporated in the arrangement…simply sensational!!!
Dave Owens certainly does Tommy Edwards "It's
All In The Game" (#1 1958) the justice it deserves,
and Scotty hitting the spot with "Butter
and Egg Man".
Going back to the 1930's Fed Astaire is the first artist
that I know of to record Jerome Kern's "The
Way You Look Tonight". A host of soloists and vocal
harmony groups has recorded the number over the years and even
Rod Stewart gave it a distinctive quality on his 2001 album
The Great American  Songbook.
Here Jimmy Queen gives it a nice bouncy interpretation, kicking
the number off with another lease of life. I love the Jazzabillies
interpretation of the instrumental "Sleepwalk", which
they re-name as "Swingwalk".
A great version of Artie Shaw's big band number "Deep
Purple" sees Starla on lead vocals in addition to
the title track "Show Me".
With teasing glimpses of musical brilliance and 12
well-crafted tracks on this outing, the Jazzabillies provide an
awesome and unbeatable variety of swing all along the way. An
album not to be missed, this is not your typical western swing
album, but incorporates all the best elements that swing music has
to offer!!! For more information and to purchase the CD
www.jazzabillies.com
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