The Chevalier Brothers

THE CHEVALIER BROTHERS - LIVE AND STILL JUMPIN' (1998)

1. Five Guys Named Moe
2. Reet, Petite And Gone
3. Fat Sam From Birmingham
4. Air Mail Special
5. Self-Inflicted
6. The Joint Is Jumpin'
7. The Jam Man
8. One More Drink Bartender
9. Wake Up Baby
10. Baby, You're Something Else
11. I Like 'Em Fat Like That
12. Caldonia
13. Harlem Nocturne
14. Coco Beano
15. Jumpin' At The Jubilee
16. Barnyard Boogie
17. Open The Door Richard

A great party band from England that was active during 1982-88, the Chevalier Brothers preceded the retro swing movement of the 1990s. This CD reissues all of the LP Live & Jumping and adds seven other selections from the period, mostly from the same gigs. The music is certainly full of spirit and sometimes borders on the hilarious, particularly "Open the Door, Richard" (which tells the full story of why Richard may not have opened the door!). Much of the material is from the Louis Jordan songbook (including "Five Guys Named Moe," "Reet, Petite and Gone" and "I Like 'Em Fat Like That"), with Ray Gelato as the main vocalist. Some fine instrumentals (such as "Air Mail Special" and "Jumpin' at the Jubilee") are included among the 17 numbers. The results are derivative but quite fun; the audience heard on these selections was definitely quite drunk and the Chevalier Brothers proved to be a highly entertaining, frequently riotous, and witty ensemble.