Microscopic Septet, The / Surrealistic Swing
Album: Surrealistic Swing   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Microscopic Septet, The   Added:Jan 2007
Label:Cuneiform Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2007-01-07 Pull Date: 2007-03-11 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Mar 11 Feb 25 Feb 18 Feb 11 Feb 4 Jan 28 Jan 21 Jan 14
Airplays: 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. May 14, 2015: Jump, Jive, & Jazz
Kelly Grows Up, I Saw You In Utah (Idaho), Baghdad Blues
4. Mar 09, 2007: Memory Select
Kelly Grows Up
2. Sep 22, 2011: All That Swing
Come From Behind
5. Feb 23, 2007: No Cover, No Minimum
Come From Behind
3. May 12, 2010: Sunshine ... in the Afternoon
You Know What You Know
6. Feb 21, 2007: Mood Swings - retro to metro and stuff
March Of The Video Reptiles

Album Review
Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2007-01-06
Fast fun: Swingy straight jazz from a large group. Fast and fun, with a sense of humor, a lot of attitude, and some interesting composing. From the early days of the NYC "downtown" scene (John Zorn on A.9 and A.10!); you'll hear a skronky solo or two but nothing too abrasive. Really nice stuff, tightly played, packed with energy and youth. Infectious stuff -- if one track doesn't grab you, keep listening. And spin it all!

DISK ONE
1- Big, fast, swingy. Some crazy sax soloing later on.
2- Upbeat blues w/saloon piano, mid/fast, swingy
3- Monk tune, midtempo and lurching, w/some free chaos
4- Midtempo swaying, like a speedy "romantic" tune
5- Circus music, spinning. With late-night movie host intro!
6- Catchy swing, fast/madcap
7- Funky little step, fun. Goes kinda Latin later on.
8- Slowish intro, into fast swingy jumping
9- Gentle swing with a tiki break and John Zorn snippets
10- Innocuous chugging, lasts 1 minute

DISK TWO
1- Busy swing
2- Cocktail-loungy, then a 7/8 crime-jazz blaze and some general wackiness. Mid/fast to fast.
3- Slow, wistful. With fast soloing space.
4- Goofy stroll, jaunty and midtempo, w/fast middle
5- Warbly, tango-y waltz. Brash and a bit klezmer-y
6- Peppy R&B/boogie-woogie
7- Tongue-in-cheek atmosphere, mysterious. Listen for the "Get Smart" theme in the solo.
8- Upbeat easygoing. Party R&B crossed w/'70s TV themes.
9- Sinewy Klezmer feel, fast but restrained, a little sad?
10- Upbeat, bouncy
11- Old-time swingy, maybe a bit tango-esque. Fast.
12- A fun little stomp. Cute piano/drums solo.
13- Rockin' intro, into stern fast tempo w/some rap. Kinda cool.
14,15- Music for NPR's "Fresh Air"! Really! 14 is sad, 15 soulful and bouncy.

Track Listing
1. Brooklyn In The Fifties   13. Rocky's Heart
2. Baghdad Blues   14. Infernal Garden Blues
3. Crepuscle With Nellie   15. Waltz Of The Recently Punished Catholic School Boys
4. In The Mission   16. Little Bobby
5. March Of The Video Reptiles   17. The Dream Detective
6. I Saw You In Utah (Idaho)   18. Lobster In The Limelight
7. I Am The Police   19. The Visit
8. By You, Do You Mean You Or Me?   20. Fool's Errand
9. Kelly Grows Up   21. Dill Pickle Tango
10. Watching Television   22. One Room Too Far Away
11. Off Color   23. You Know What You Know
12. Come From Behind   24. Fresh Air Theme (Gulf War)
  25. Fresh Air Theme (Happy Twin)