“I’ve been a big fan of Big Joe’s for years. I love I’m Still Swingin’.” — Anson Funderburgh, guitarist
With the release of I’m Still Swingin’ on Severn Records, Big Joe & the Dynaflows find themselves on familiar ground performing the music from an all but forgotten age.
The disc opens with two strong covers by legendary New Orleans songwriter, Dave Bartholomew (“Playgirl” and “Bad Luck Blues”). The New Orleans flavor continues throughout on Big Joe Maher’s versions of B.B. King’s “Early Every Morning,” and Ray Charles’ “On the Other Hand.” When you add to the mix a handful of originals, the result is an album that captures the Crescent City’s heart during the height of the swing era.
Backing Joe on Swingin’ are long-time sidemen including bassist Jeff Sarli (Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon), John Cocuzzi who shares keyboard duties with Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton, Brian Setzer, Mike Ferris), guitarist Ivan Appelrouth, and seasoned veteran on the tenor saxophone Joe Stanley (Link Wray, Roy Clark, Danny Gatton) . Also appearing are a host of guests including former Mighty Flyer, Alex Schultz whose fret work is the perfect compliment to Joe’s belting vocals, former Black Top recording saxophonist Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff, and country music great Lee Roy Parnell who adds his trademark guitar licks on one number.
Includes liner notes by Serius/XM Radio’s Bluesville host, Bill Wax.
Check out Big Joe’s other Severn titles: All Night Long; and You Can’t Keep a Big Man Down.
LINER NOTES
MUSICIANS
Big Joe Maher: Vocal and Drums
Kevin McKendree: Organ and Piano
Alex Schultz: Guitar
Jeff Sarli: Acoustic Bass
Ivan Appelrouth: Guitar
Joe Stanley: Tenor Saxophone
Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff: Saxophones
John Cocuzzi: Piano, Vibraphones, Organ
John Wolf: Trombone
Clyde Hunt: Trumpet
CREDITS
Executive Producer: David Earl
Producer: Big Joe Maher
Recorded at Wally Cleaver’s Studio, Fredericksburg, VA, September, 1997.
Engineer: Peter Bonta
Lee Roy Parnell’s solo on “How Come People Act Like That” engineered by Chris Salamone
Mastered at Air Show, Springfield, VA, by Charlie Pilzer
Horns arranged by Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff.
Lee Roy Parnell appears courtesy of Arista Records