Switchin' in the Kitchen

by Dave Clark

Overview

Although some quality bands came out of the retro-swing trend of the '90s, many of them were amateurish, and by the end of the decade, retro-swing had pretty much dried up. But that doesn't mean that's the last of jump blues, only that a bunch of young bands aren't coming along and emulating the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, or the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Those who are in it for the long haul -- Dave Clark, for example -- are still plugging away. Born in 1955, the saxophonist/bandleader was playing jump blues long before the neo-swing trend took off and was still doing his thing after its popularity faded. Actually, Clark shouldn't be compared to the neo-swing artists of the '90s because what he does is undeniably different; while the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and similar artists played a blend of jump blues and early rock & roll (with a big dose of irony), Switchin' in the Kitchen has a more authentically '40s-like sound. Assembled by Delmark in 2003, this 60-minute CD focuses on recordings that Clark made with his Chicago-based Blues Swingers band in 1991, 1992, and 1999. The material (some of which features the late singer/guitarist Floyd McDaniel) is quite faithful to the spirit of classic jump blues, swing, and early, pre-doo wop R&B; if it wasn't for the clean digital sound quality, one could easily assume that these recordings were actually made back when Harry Truman was president. Clark has since discontinued the Blues Swingers and moved to Los Angeles. Thankfully he's still playing jump blues, and this CD is a solid and enjoyable -- if derivative -- document of his years in the Windy City. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2003
Label:	Delmark
UPC:	0038153076825
Rank:	167948

Tracks

1. Untrue Woman
2. How Long Blues
3. Swing Time
4. St. Louis Blues
5. Cold, Cold Feeling
6. Switchin' in the Kitchen
7. Our Delight
8. Caldonia
9. West Side Baby
10. High Stakes Woman
11. Mary Jo
12. What a Wonderful World
13. Corner Pocket
14. Spin, Flip, and Dip
15. St. Louis Blues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dave Clark   Primary Artist
Blues Swingers   Primary Artist
Jasen Schrock   Primary Artist,Vocals
Floyd McDaniel   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Mark Wydra   Guitar
The Dave Clark Five   Sax (Tenor)
Mike McLaughlin   Trumpet
Mwata Bowden   Clarinet,Sax (Baritone)
Tim Barton   Piano
Bill Yancey   Bass
Robert H. Henderson   Drums
Donny Nichilo   Piano
Jim Donovan   Trumpet
Paul Mundy   Sax (Alto)
Jeff Fortin   Drums
Chris Gorcik   Bass
Josh Sinton   Sax (Baritone)
Van Kelly   Clarinet,Sax (Baritone)

Technical Credits

Tadd Dameron   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Floyd McDaniel   Composer
W.C. Handy   Composer
Leroy Carr   Composer
Robert G. Koester   Producer,Supervisor
Jessie Mae Robinson   Composer
George David Weiss   Composer
Dallas Bartley   Composer
Dave Clark   Composer
The Dave Clark Five   Arranger,Group Member
Rudolph Moore   Composer
Donald Wolf   Composer
Mike McLaughlin   Group Member
Mwata Bowden   Group Member
Rudolph B. Moore   Composer
Tim Barton   Group Member
John Meggs   Arranger
Bill Yancey   Group Member
Kate Hoddinott   Photography
Robert H. Henderson   Group Member
Donny Nichilo   Group Member
Jim Donovan   Group Member
Al Brandtner   Design
Paul Mundy   Group Member
Larry Williams   Engineer
Jeff Fortin   Group Member
Chris Gorcik   Group Member
Josh Sinton   Group Member
Mark Wydra   Group Member
Blaise Barton   Engineer
Steve Wagner   Mixing,Producer,Mastering
Bill Dahl   Liner Notes
Bob Thiele   Composer
J. Mayo Williams   Composer
Freddie Green   Composer
Fleecy Moore   Composer
Fleecie Moore   Composer
Van Kelly   Group Member
Tommy Braden   Composer