Just Cross The River

Reviewed: 2018-08-21
Genre: Jazz
Review: Fourteen cuts of pure joy leap from Lichtman’s latest disc, as he traces the history of jazz musicians that moved to Queens from the more expensive Manhattan in the 1920s. Backed by the Queensboro Six, the music swings, shakes, rattles, and walks with serious sass. Guest vocalists and musicians add additional flair.
FCCs: none
If You Like: Sidney Bechet, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Blossom Dearie
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ 7 Express (2;34) – horns start> fast jam> clarinet solo> trumpet solo> fast jam> quick stop
2/ For Bix (3:52) – clarinet starts> slow jam builds in volume> muted trumpet solo> trombone solo> clarinet solo> slow jam> slow fade
*3/ Midnight at The Piers (4:50) – clarinet starts> midtempo jam> swanky trumpet solo> midtempo jam> clarinet & trumpet trade solos> midtempo jam> piano solo> jam> quick stop
*4/ Road Street Court Place Avenue Drive (4:45) – horns start> midtempo jam> clarinet solo swings up tempo> piano solo> horns solo> fast jam> bass solo> drum solo> swinging uptempo jam> quick stop
5/ Someday You’ll be Sorry (3:57) – clarinet/trumpet duet> > midtempo jam> female vocal> clarinet solo> song builds to crescendo & stops
6/ Waltz For Camila (3:28) – clarinet starts> midtempo jam> bass solo> piano solo> clarinet solo> midtempo jam slows to fade
*7/ L.I.C. Strut (4:34) – trumpet starts> midtempo jam> clarinet solo> trombone solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> clarinet solo> midtempo jam> pause> midtempo jam> fade
*8/ Just Cross the River From Queens (2:42) – clarinet starts> uptempo song with male vocal> trumpet solo> clarinet solo> song> quick stop
9/ Blue Turning into Grey Over You (4:02) – clarinet starts> slow song with female vocal> clarinet solo> trumpet solo swings to midtempo song> crescendo end
***10/ 23rd Between 23rd And 23rd (3:47) – trumpet starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> trumpet solo> guitar solo> clarinet solo> guitar solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*11/ Squeeze Me (4:01) – horns start> strutting midtempo song with female vocal> trumpet solo> clarinet solo> song>
*12/ The Power Of Not Then (4:42) – horns start> fast jam> piano solo> muted trumpet solo> guitar solo> clarinet solo interspersed with drum fills> bass solo> fast jam> quick stop
13/ I’d Remember Having Met You (4:11) – clarinet starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> slow jam> clarinet solo> slow jam & crescendo end
**14/ Cake Walking Babies From Home (2:20) – uptempo jam> song with male vocal> clarinet solo> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> quick stop