Retro Music Review | Oldies, Reissues and New Releases with a Retro Sound

T-Bear & The Dukes of Rhythm - Let The Sweet Talk Flow (El Toro; El Toro R&B 205)

Dukes of Rhythm guitarist and vocalist “T-Bear” would be one of the finest young blues players in Chicago, if not for this simple fact: he’s not from Chicago. He’s from Sweden. His real name is Torbjörn Solberg, and he plays like a cross between B.B. King and Chuck Berry. His blues wail has a bit of an Elvis growl in it and his original songs are as badass as any of the classics… READ MORE

Gust Spenos Quartet - Swing Theory (Swing Theory LLC)

Hearing musicians play for the sheer fun of it is always a kick. And the Gust Spenos Quartet kicks like a mule. Deans of their own College of Musical Knowledge, tenor saxman Gust Spenos, pianist Marvin Chandler, bassist Frank Smith, and drummer Kenny Phelps lay down some deliciously vintage sounds on Swing Theory. Ably assisted by special guests Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Schneider, and Everett Greene, the Quartet takes on ten standards and two originals, addressing each tune with verve and style… READ MORE

The Slammers Maximum Jive Band - Jive Time! (El Toro; ETCD 2036)

Lovers of old fashioned, swingin’ rhythm and blues, never fear — The Slammers are here! From across the pond comes one of the finest jive outfits in decades. There just aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to properly describe the immense cool of this group and this disc. A simple “wow” is way too little. A simple “holy mother of pearl this band is so good it’s criminal” doesn’t even do the job… READ MORE

Bobby Darin - Sings the Shadow of Your Smile / In A Broadway Bag (Edsel; EDSS 1012)

The first disc in the UK-based Edsel label’s four volume Bobby Darin reissue series features the classic 1966 LPs Sings The Shadow Of Your Smile and In A Broadway Bag. These albums signaled Darin’s return to Atlantic Records after a 7-album stint at Capitol.

A desire for more creative control has been cited by many sources as a leading reason for Darin’s original departure from Atlantic, so it should come as no surprise that Sings The Shadow Of Your Smile finds Mr. Darin sitting in the producer’s chair. With an artist of such fine taste and talent at the helm, the result is pure magic… READ MORE