My heroes, and that’s no stage joke.
Ralf Reynolds, washboard, vocal; John Reynolds, guitar, vocal, whistling; Marc Caparone, cornet, vocal; Katie Cavera, string bass, vocal; Clint Baker, trombone, clarinet, vocal — live at the Sacramento Music Festival, May 25, 2012.
Irving Berlin’s I’LL SEE YOU IN C-U-B-A wasn’t a stab at capitalism, but a very witty response to Prohibition. Katie Cavera, whom I nominate for Best Swing Actress in a Motion Picture, handles the deft lyrics nimbly:
You could deconstruct THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN as a lie in swingtime fed to the hungry and desolate unemployed (“Hey, fellas and gals, an empty stomach is what God meant you to have!” or as a sweet-natured rebuke to materialism, asking in 4 /4, “How much land does a man need?” Either way, John sings it wonderfully:
If he struts like a king, HE’S A SON OF THE SOUTH. He’s their delight. He’s so polite. One of my favorite songs, letting Louis shine through Marc Caparone:
Pretty! DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME:
Our caravan is red-hot in HINDUSTAN:
I will bet you thirteen dollars of my money (as Lester Young used to say to his JATP colleagues) that the Reynolds Brothers would go over gangbusters at a swing dance . . . or in a club . . . at a European jazz party . . . at an East Coast venue. At present they are delighting people right and left at Disney California Adventure (as “the Ellis Island Boys”) but I want other people to have this experience. I’m willing to share them with the world, you know.
May your happiness increase.
Another delightful treat, Dr Mike. And the sharp camera (and camera work) ain’t so shabby either.
I will convey your kind words to our cinematographer, who will be pleased.