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Swing Makes You Happy

by George Gee Swing Orchestra

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1.
Comin' Home 05:10
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2.
Bedrock 04:33
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3.
Lindy Hopper's Delight 02:40
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4.
Sweet Pumpkin 03:30
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5.
No Moon At All 03:00
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No moon at all, what a night Even lightnin' bugs have dimmed their lights Stars have disappeared from sight And there's no moon at all Don't make a sound, it's so dark Even Fido is afraid to bark Such a perfect chance to park There's no moon at all Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear One kiss will make it clear That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere No moon at all up above This is nothin' like they told us of Just to think we fell in love And there's no moon at all Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear One kiss will make it clear That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere No moon at all up above This is nothin' like they told us of Just to think we fell in love And there's no moon at all No moon at all No moon at all No moon at all
6.
I Knows 02:58
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7.
I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water 03:37
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Baby, we got to have a little talk I ought to pack up my things and walk I know a dollar goes from hand to hand But before I let you go from man to man I'd rather drink muddy water Sleep out in a hollow log I work for you like a Georgia mule My friends all laughed, called me a fool Your kisses are as sweet as can be But before I let you make a fool out of me I'd rather drink muddy water Lay down and sleep in a hollow log I love you baby, but you won't be fair You don't know how to be on the square Have your fun baby, if you must But before I'll have a woman that I cannot trust I'd rather drink muddy water Sleep out in a hollow log Muddy water Yes, Baby, we got to have a little talk Said I ought to pack up my things and walk I know a dollar goes from hand to hand But before I let you go from man to man I'd rather drink muddy water Sleep out in a hollow log I work for you like a Georgia mule My friends all laughed and they called me a fool Your kisses are as sweet as can be But before I let you make a fool out of me I'd rather drink muddy water Sleep in a hollow log Because I love you baby, but you won't be fair You don't know how to be on the square Have your fun baby, if you must But before I'll have a woman that I can't trust I'd rather drink muddy water Drink muddy water Drink muddy water Sleep out in a hollow log Muddy water
8.
Baby Won't You Please Come Home 03:51
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I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'll give the world if I could only Make you understand It surely would be grand I'm gonna telephone my baby Ask him won't you please come home 'Cause when you're gone I'm worried all day long Baby won't you please come home Baby won't you please come home I have tried in vain Evermore to call your name When you left you broke my heart That will never make us part Every hour in the day You will hear me say Baby won't you please come home, I mean Baby won't you please come home Baby won't you please come home 'Cause your mama's all alone I have tried in vain Nevermore to call your name When you left you broke my heart That will never make us part Landlord gettin' worse I've got to move May the first Baby won't you please come home, I need money Baby won't you please come home
9.
Midnight in a Madhouse 02:28
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10.
The Road To Roscoe's 05:07
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11.
If I Were a Bell 02:40
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Ask me how do I feel Ask me now that we're cozy and clinging Well, sir, all I can say Is if I were a bell I'd be ringing From the moment we kissed tonight That's the way I just got to behave Boy, if I were a lamp I'd light Or if I were a banner I'd wave Ask me how do I feel Little me with my quiet upbringing Well, sir, all I can say Is if I were a gate I'd be swinging And if I were a watch I'd start Popping my spring Or if I were a bell I'd go ding dong ding dong ding Ask me how do I feel From this chemistry lesson I'm learning Well, sir, all I can say Is if I were a bridge I'd be burning Yes, I knew my moral would crack From the wonderful way that you looked Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked Ask me how do I feel Ask me now that we're fondly caressing Pal, if I were a salad I know I'd be splashing my dressing Or if I were a season, I'd surely be spring Or if I were a bell Yes, if I were a bell, if I were a bell I'd go ding dong ding dong ding
12.
It Was a Very Good Year 04:22
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13.
That's No Joke 03:45
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14.
You Say You Care 02:49
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You seem so calm But inside you bleed Game's changing once again You holdin' back You don't proceed Your heart will not admit But your eyes can not pretend You're fallin' for it Oh, I was captured right away I was scared That you would lie to me and say Oh, I was humbled by your grace I was scared That you would lie to me and say Say you care Oh say you care You searching for Something real But you're lying to yourself You came so close The perfect feel Now you blame yourself For being so weak But your eyes can not pretend Well, your fighting for her Oh, I was captured right away I was scared That you would lie to me and say Oh, I was humbled by your grace I was scared That you would lie to me and say Say you care Oh say you care Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Oh, I was captured right away I was scared That you would lie to me and say Oh, I was humbled by your grace I was scared Oh, that you would lie to me and say to me Say you care Oh say you care
15.
Hash Mash 04:55
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16.
Nature Boy 04:18
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There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he wandered very far, very far Over land and sea A little shy and sad of eye But very wise was he And then one day A magic day he passed my way And while we spoke of many things Fools and kings This he said to me The greatest thing you'll ever learn Is just to love and be loved in return The greatest thing you'll ever learn Is just to love and be loved in return
17.
Evenin' 04:01
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Evening, every night you come and you find me And you always remind me that my baby's gone Evening, you got me deeply in your power Every minute seems just like an hour, now that my baby's gone Shadows fall upon the wall, that's the time I miss your kiss most of all Even though I try, how can I go on Oh evening, let me sleep till glow of dawn is breakin' I don't care if I don't awaken, since my baby's gone Shadows fall upon the wall, that's the time I miss your kiss most of all Even though I try, how can I go on Evening, let me sleep till glow of dawn is breakin' I don't care if I don't awaken, since my man is gone
18.
A Tribute To Someone 06:22
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19.
Blue Minor 03:04
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about

"Swing Makes You Happy! isn't just an album title: it's a mantra and belief system that guides the George Gee Swing Orchestra, a little big band intent on rekindling the ear's love affair with music associated with a bygone era.

Gee has been in the big band business for more than three decades, but it's his eighteen-years-and-counting residency at New York City's Swing46 Jazz and Supper Club that has afforded him the opportunity to fine tune and tighten things up while playing for appreciative audiences. And while the orchestra carries his name, equal credit for this group's sound today goes to trombonist/musical director David Gibson. He's made his own name via a series of albums for Nagel Heyer and Posi-Tone, essaying funk, bop, post-bop, and more along the way, but his unabashed love for old school swing wins out here. He arranged all nineteen numbers that appear on this album, making this band of nine sound twice its size at times, and his writing is loyal to the past without coming off as dated.

In true throwback fashion, most of the material presented on Swing Makes You Happy! is short and to the point. Gee may not have the recording length limitations that his big band forefathers had, but he still works like he does. Eighteen of these nineteen tracks come in around or under the five minute mark, with some being considerably shorter; only the penultimately-placed take on Herbie Hancock's "A Tribute To Someone" exceeds six minutes, which is still hardly lengthy by today's standards. Some pieces showcase the whole band and a few notable soloists ("Comin' Home" and "Bedrock"), some serve as swing skeletons to support a single player ("I Knows"), and others allow vocalist John Dokes' baritone to shine ("I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water") or help to accentuate the beautiful curves in Hilary Gardner's voice ("Sweet Pumpkin" and "No Moon At All").

As small big bands go, this one has it all, with distinct solo personalities that also manage to mesh well together. Baritone saxophonist Anthony Lustig is a force to be reckoned with, delivering solos like he's walking the bar ("The Road To Roscoe's") and confidently holding down the low end; tenor saxophonist Michael Hashim brings a sly sound to the fore when it's time for him to stand out ("It Was A Very Good Year"); and alto saxophonist Eddie Pazant's pinched proclamations are real attention-grabbers ("Comin' Home"). Then there's the lone trombone of Gibson, the strong trumpets of Freddie Hendrix and Andy Gravish, and the effortlessly swinging rhythm section of pianist Steve Einerson, bassist Marcus McLaurine, and drummer Willard Dyson to contend with. Together, and with the vocalists and Gee out front, they make music that sings the virtues of swing for all to hear."

Dan Bilawsky
www.allaboutjazz.com

Track listings:

Comin’ Home; Bedrock; Lindyhoppers’ Delight; Sweet Pumpkin; No Moon at All; I Knows; I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water; Baby Won’t You Please Come Home; Midnight in a Madhouse; The Road to Roscoe’s; If I Were a Bell; It Was a Very Good Year; That’s No Joke; You Say You Care; Hash Mash; Nature Boy; Evenin’; A Tribute to Someone; Blue Minor.

credits

released January 1, 2014

George Gee: leader; David Gibson: music director, composer, arranger, trombone; Andy Gravish: trumpet; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet; Ed Pazant: alto sax; Michael Hashim: tenor sax; Anthony Lustig: baritone sax; Steve Einerson: piano; Marcus McLaurine: bass; Willard Dyson: drums; Hilary Gardner: vocals; John Dokes: vocals.

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