Title: Swing It Around
Artist: Adler, Jimmy
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 880953003125
Genre: Blues

'Swing it Around' is the follow up recording to the well-received 2005 release of Jimmy Adler's 'Absolutely Blues! Live at the Boneyard'. Where 'Absolutely Blues!' features a flavorful amount of guitar and barrelhouse piano, 'Swing it Around' does not disappoint, yet it is more focused on crafting the actual song. All songs are either written by Adler or Pittsburgh's Mike Sweeney who also adds his bass to seven of the twelve tracks. Sweeney's songs have been recorded by most Pittsburgh blues and soul bands who have stepped foot into a studio. He is truly Pittsburgh's answer to Willie Dixon in his prolific songwriting skills. In addition to the focus on the song writing, 'Swing it' features more of Adler's flavorful guitar from the fluid opening lines of 'Smoke Signals' to his patented Elmore-like scorching slide guitar on 'Get Outa My Kitchen'. This recording also includes the welcome addition of Eric Spaulding's honking saxophone. Spaulding has added a swinging and honking flavor to the disc that gives the recording more of a pre 1955 sound. Spaulding has even played with some of the heavies from the east coast including Duke Robillard and Roomful of Blues. If you like a variety of blues flavored guitar (played on several different guitars from a Harmony H62 to a Fender Strat) and authentic swinging and honking saxophone you will be pleased with this new recording. In addition to having Mike Sweeney play bass on this recording, five songs also feature the return of Harry "Alley Cat" McCorkle who was on the entire 'Absolutely Blues!' recording. McCorkle adds bass to tracks 2,3,5,6, &11. The drums are mostly handled by the solid and steady in the pocket groove of Kenny Crisafio who has played alongside Jimmy in many other Pittsburgh blues bands over the years. In addition to Crisafio's solid drumming, four tracks (1,7,10,12) feature the swinging rhythm drums of Kenny Kellner. The piano is also handled by two of Pittsburgh's very finest blues players. First, John "Junkman" Burgh (from the Absolutely Blues! Record) returns to add his creative and improvisational playing to five tracks (2.3.5.6.11). Sudden Steve is the other keyboard man who plays piano on several tracks and adds his living breathing Hammond organ to two of the compositions ("Smoke Signals" and "Little Less Blue"). He also leads off 'She Don't Dance' with some classic parlor blues piano. Steve's playing can be heard on tracks 1,4,7,8,10, & 12. Perry Salati adds a little harmonica spice to "Down in Alabama" and Stephanie Adler breathes a fresh harmony voice into "Ooh-Wee-Baby" with her high soaring soprano that cuts through particularly well during the chorus. Several of these songs were inspired as a result of the band performing their live shows in Pittsburgh at Bobby D's Swing City Dances. Swing dancers will enjoy some of the upbeat jump tunes but lovers of blues flavored guitar, saxophone, and just plain good song writing will enjoy Swing it Around.

Tracks:
1.1 Liquor Got Loose
1.2 Think About You
1.3 Hambone
1.4 Smoke Signals
1.5 Down in Alabama
1.6 Fingertips
1.7 Little Less Blues
1.8 Ooh-Wee-Baby
1.9 Let's You and I Go Out Tonight
1.10 Saturday Nite Social Affair
1.11 Get Outa My Kitchen
1.12 She Don't Dance