Jersey Swamp Cats: Go Cat Go
Jersey Swamp Cats
Go Cat Go
The lines blur between the distinctions of Blues, New Orleans R&B, early Rock' N Roll, Rockabilly and Jump Blues, But for the Jersey Swamp Cats they all mount to high energy good clean fun. The quartet from Orange New Jersey perform creative, swampy renditions of classics by Fats Domino, Albert Collins, Professor Longhair, Louis Prima, Albert King along with four new originals on their debut album Go Cat Go, released in spring of 2019. The duel leads of Gerry Gladston on piano and Don Leich on guitar drive the sound while the tight rhythm section of drummer Chris Reardon and Larry Ghiorsi on Bass hold it all together. The sessions where recorded at Mozart Studio in Little Falls New Jersey by Kostadin Kamcev, who captured the bands lively retro sound to perfection.
What better way to get the party started than dance floor favorite ‘Jump Jive And Wail,’ the Cats open the album by nailing the Louis Prima classic and adding some Jersey flair. The first original song of the album ‘Cupcake,’ is a Chicago blues romp about a “crazy little gal,” who gives as much as she gets. The driving track featuring swinging guitar and hep vocals from Leich, also made it onto the Bongo Boy Records upcoming compilation ‘Backroom Blues Vol. 8.’ Blue Monday,’ follows as a loving tribute to Fats Domino, with Leich adding some bluesy swagger to the vocal and the rhythm section beefing up the groove. ‘I Don’t Mind,’ transports us to New Orleans with an easy going groove and melody that conjure echoes of Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. Special guest horn players Anthony Salimbene, of Crescent City Maulers on Saxophone, and Patrick Dudasik on trumpet join the Cats on this joyful trip to the Big Easy. The Albert Collins staple ‘Too Tired,’ is delivered on a muscular flat tire shuffle with ripping guitar leads. Piano man Gladston calls for everyone to swing, sway and "Dance All Night," on the super smooth jazzy blues number and Bassist Larry Ghiorsi delivers convincing Cajun lead vocals on the bayou fueled revival of the traditional ‘Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing,’ with second line drumming by Chris Reardon and spicy horn trade off’s cooking up an irresistible gumbo. The Albert King rhumba ‘I Get Evil,’ is often mistakenly called “Don’t You Lie To Me,” as that infectious hook is repeated throughout and Gladston delivers the line with fire, leading the Cats through a spot cover of the Blues standard from 1962. Leich joins Gladston on twin turbo vocals for ‘Shiny Gray Corvette,’ closing the set with a Hot Rod Rock N Roll anthem zooming down the highway over a hundred miles an hour. The Jersey Swamp Cats serve up a genuine dish of All American good time tunes on this fine debut Go Cat Go.
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Rick J Bowen
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