Idiosyncratic
singer/songwriter
Leon Redbone
spent the 1990s building upon his sizable cult following with more uncanny arrangements of vintage
pop
and
jazz
tunes, while simultaneously unveiling a few of his own compositions. Sporting an unmistakable and remarkably limber baritone,
Redbone
continues his fusion of
Americana
with some distinct and flavorful overtones that would not sound out of place in the
Django Reinhardt
Stephane Grappelli
-led
Quintet of the Hot Club of France
. This is evident right out of the box on
's
"Play Gypsy Play,"
as guitarist
Frank Vignola
and violinist
Stan Kurtis
provide a hearty
Hot Club
vibe. An almost palpable sense of mystery shrouds the somnolent
"At the Chocolate Bon Bon Ball,"
incorporating
Alfredo Pedernera
on the Argentinean bandoneon -- a native instrument with a tonality close to that of its' European descendant, the concertina.
Pedernera
weaves hypnotically beneath the
march
-like cadence, unifying the otherwise disparate sonic elements. The easygoing languid cover of
Hoagy Carmichael
"Lazy River"
can easily be considered a seminal entry in
's repertoire, with just enough energy to gently move the song along. Special guest
Dr. John
tickles the ivories further accenting the sumptuous melody.
"When Dixie Stars Are Playing Peek-a-Boo"
is an obscure side dating to the early 20th century.
Asleep at the Wheel
Cindy Cashdollar
picks a down-home dobro, modernizing the rural
blues
amalgam and definitely hearkening to the original. Similarly,
's interpretation of
"Mr. Jelly Roll Baker"
has one foot in the past while leaping toward a rollicking renewal of the Beale Street
from whence the selection was derived. Again,
Cashdollar
is heard here, twanging beneath a full-bodied lead vocal and some buoyant sax interjections from multi-instrumentalist
Vince Giordano
, who also plays piano, drums and bass on the track. His sax spills over on to the humor-laden take-off/put-on rendering of
Papa Charlie Jackson
's bawdy
"Gotta Shake That Thing."
Other standouts on
Up a Lazy River
(1992) include the
co-penned
"That Old Familiar Blues"
"Bittersweet Waltz"
-- both boasting additional contributions from
-- although the latter shouldn't be mistaken for the
Noel Coward
song of the same name. ~ Lindsay Planer