Wild and Cool (1998)

About this title: With a solid four-horn frontline that reads and solo in the fine old-time tradition of the territory bands of yore, the Johnny Nocturne Band come to the plate with their third album full of jazz heavily laced with blues. Leader and saxophonist John Firmin keeps his troops swinging throughout this 11-song set, working like a fine, precise machine regardless of the musical setting. Swing, bop, and blues with strong attachments to melody are the signposts here, and the playing on Bobby Troup's "Lemon Twist," "Tu ma qui te (Hey! Joli Blon)," "After the Lights Go Down Low" and "Don't Get Around ... read more

Tracks:

1. Lemon Twist [Troup]
2. New Kind of Mambo [Wyche/Bennett]
3. Tu Ma Qui Te (Hey! Joli Blon) [Boykin]
4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore [Ellington/Russell]
5. Hey, Mister Jessie [Moore]
6. A Pound of Blues [Lovett]
7. At My Front Door [Moore/Abner]
8. By the River Sainte Marie [Leslie/Warren]
9. Chabootie [Carpenter]
10. After the Lights Go Down Low [Lovett]
11. Little Slam [Mundy]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.