Hot Club of Cowtown - Wild Kingdom

This Austin-based trio shows their influences from the get-go with the Western swing of "My Candy," a cut that is indeed sweet thanks to the singing of fiddle player Elana James (and well, because she gives cute shout-outs to Smarties, Jolly Ranchers, Charleston Chews and a handful of other confections in the lyrics.) James also wrote the song and the arrangement lets fans get to know each player as guitarist Whit Smith and bass man Jake Erwin take solos; guest players Damien Llanes on drums and pianist Joe Kerr get a slice of the spotlight on the cut too. Even dinosaurs would fall under the spell of Smith's super-swinging "Caveman;" likely the big galoots would dance up a storm until some asteroid put an end to the party. "Tall Tall Ship" is a fiddle-driven cut straight out of the bayou, Smith's "Ways of Escape" takes on the mood of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" and set closer "How High the Moon" finds James in a reflective mood, aided by sweet harmonies from Smith and Erwin. Lloyd Maines produced here and every note is crystal clear, allowing the trio's talent to really shine through.

Hot Club of Cowtown - Wild Kingdom

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