All-original songs once again except for the old Fats Waller staple 'Your Feet's Too Big' sung by guitarist Bob Heinz, on whom the title track is loosely based. Other contributing instrumentalists include Neil Billington (harmonica), Jonathan Crayford (pi

16 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Swing/Big Band, COUNTRY: Western Swing



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But I do know music, and a delightful slab of it came my way on CD recently, this time from that veritable Paris of the South Seas, Wellington. And indeed, Hot Club Sandwich are a Wellington band specialising in the continental swing of the Quintette du Hot Club de France which they liberally season with a dash of Bob Willsâ western swing and a scattering of blues and rockabilly. Their new album is called Ridin' With Bob.

HCS are an interesting band because they are basically a duo â singer/acoustic guitarist Andrew London and bass player/pianist Terry Crayford - who add simpatico players to the mix each outing. They have played in Tauranga on a few occasions, once with fiddle virtuoso Fiona Pears, other times with blues harp wizard Neil Billington. This is their fifth album, which finds them in the company of titular veteran Christchurch guitarist Bob Heinz with a little assistance from Billingtonâs harp and â unusually - Nils Olsenâs baritone sax.

But, rather than the instrumentation, the signature sound of Hot Club Sandwich stems from Londonâs breathy singing and his smart witty songs. And these are present in abundance. Perhaps the slickest is the ode to his I-Pod âPoddy Understands Meâ which comes complete with smoothly humorous backing vocals.

Elsewhere âRat Race Refugeeâ explores the plight of SUV-driving weekend farmers while the blues takes a front seat for the shopping ditty âHard Bargainâ and in the harp gymnastics of âI Donât Recognise This Neighbourhoodâ. There are delightful Tin Pan Alley echoes on the clever Gershwin-style âYou Can Be Difficultâ while Heinz pops up to sing Fats Wallerâs âYour Feetâs To Bigâ (with âa throat full of Christchurch smogâ) and Crayford â writer of the Fair Go theme â contributes three nifty instrumentals.

Hot Club Sandwich received an enviable 4-star review in Americaâs prestigious Downbeat magazine for their superb 2005 album Toasted. Riding with Bob is every bit its equal.