Top Shelf Jazz's "Fast and Louche" -- part Cab Calloway, part Atomic Fireballs, all good smutty Prohibition jazz
Top Shelf Jazz, a British retro "Prohibition" jazz act, has released its debut album, "Fast and Louche" and it kicks ass. Combining smutty rhythms with comic touches and real jazz virtuosity, the Top Shelfers capture a swinging sound that's part Atomic Fireballs, part Cab Calloway, and entirely delightful. I saw Top Shelf perform at a steampunk White Mischief night at London's Scala and they were superb live -- show-stoppers who transfixed everyone who peeked into the upstairs room, dragged them in and got them dancing. I'm so glad to have their music in my possession now!
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Yeah, but which part of Cab Calloway?
Accepting all future music recommendations from Cory.
Just snagged a copy after previewing on Amazon. It does indeed, kick serious azz.
Love me some ragged-dy, punkish jazz fiends.
Here is my contribution: The Zydepunks, a gypsy infused Zydeco band local to New Orleans. http://tinyurl.com/lh3sw4
@2 Zydepunks look GREAT! I've written to them for a set of review MP3s
Nice sound, good songs. But, I think Lee Press-on and the Nails has 'em beat hands down.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/kuzxs9
Similar to our band, the Muddy Basin Ramblers (http://cdbaby.com/cd/davidchenatmbr) a jug band in Taiwan. Alas, we had to record our album in my living room. For the next one we really should get a real studio.
I think Lee Press-on and the Nails and Top Shelf Jazz should take it outside. We'll kick your arse!!! Like your sound guys but you don't have a tapdancer. Nyerrr.
For all potential UK fans and stalkers, you will be able to buy us as Amazon.co.uk soon. Join the Top Shelf Jazz facebook group for updates or just buy me a drink at the next gig and I'll tell you everything.
Josephine Shaker.x
I've seen them in Cardiff a couple of times -- first as an unpolished duet, then expanded to a six-piece singing-and-dancing hot jazz extravaganza. Excellent live show, very much in the spirit of what we picture the 1920s and 1930s to have been like.
These fellas are the cat pajamas! They're aces! They've got moxie! By jingo, they're swell! And their ditties are real toe-tappers!
Indeed, i'm not known for my sobriety... we were forced to drink water on stage that night!! imagine!
it was like a jungle in there [La Scala], full of howling Natives and what-such!
xxFoxaque
Have attended two wonmderful performances by these most enteratining of chaps and a lady ;-). Would be attending a third this weekend but dang it all I have to go to the big smoke, so will be sorely missing my cheap drink and dirty jazz what what :-(
Their logo wears a fez... That's enough for an endorsement right there. At the beginning of Nagasaki, isn't that the Muppet theme I hear? I'd love to see them perform in a show with the Bratislava Hot Serenaders sometime.
Sounds good. Very similar to Squirrel Nut Zippers -- apart from the accent, I wouldn't have doubted for a second that this was just SNZ's latest album.
Yeah it is SNZ sounding which is a good thing since they haven't done anything in years and their last album was too fiftiesh not 20-30's-ish for my tastes.
I heard no cab calloway sounding folks.
Come tour the U.S.! Please!
the spirit of Cab Calloway is more in my hips than musical output... a live show will give you the picture!
Squirrel Nut Zippers? You simply have to love them! the light sound we have (quite co-incidentally at that!)certainly echos their past recordings and i can't say i haven't been inspired by them!! we intend to add a Harlem pianist to really anchor it down and pack that extra punch we crave (along with the cheap drink)!
xxFoxaque
I say! doctorow! (is that pronounced with a 'V' at the end slavic style?)
the picture hasn't loaded properly for some reason, just to heads up.
xxFoxaque
Atomic Fireballs, now that's a band I haven't thought about in a looooooooong time. I've actually been finding myself listening lately to another late 90's/early 00's band The Hothead Swing Band/The Hothead Fiasco.
http://www.myspace.com/hotheadfiasco
What I love about them is how versatile the band was. Fantastic 20s/30s interpretation...
Great post!
Ah, nice to have an alternative, now that Squirrel Nut Zippers seems to have disappeared.
And a nice counterpoint to my current passion for the Swing stylin's of our old friends, Manhattan Transfer.
@ Cory,
So glad you like Zydepunks! They are, indeed, great. I heart trad music, am a southern girl and an old punk. They really hit home for me.
Oh! What a joyful noise. Incredible and delovely. I downloaded the album and now I want to consume gallons of gin! It is so fantastic.
Do I detect a Bonzo influence, as well?
Please, may we have some more?
OddBrian
@ oddbrian
yes, considerable background influence of the Bonzo, especially when live! "if had all the money that i'd spent on drink..." we openly and wholeheartedly encourage copious boozing and related bad behaviour on every gig!
no expected releases until next year at the earliest, except the possibility of nailing some offewnsively re-worded christmas songs to annoy the people who wouldn't ever ;listen to us anyway!!
cheers!
Foxaque
5....4...3...2....1.....We are now selling on amazon.co.uk.
x
jS
links for downlaods so far are:
http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/topshelfjazz
http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Louche/dp/B002HH0XHY/ref=dm_ap_alb1?ie=UTF8&qid=1247841178&sr=103-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fast-Louche/dp/B002HSNM4Y/ref=sr_shvl_album_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1247841305&sr=301-2
and very soon on: iTunes and www.napster.co.uk
i've got 10$ in my itunes account waiting for this to show up. superb sounds for sure!!
@Foxaque
I knew it! Plus, seeing "Hello, Mabel" on your website was another dead giveaway. Thankfully, there are those who keep the Bonzo spirit alive. And if I had all the money I'd spent on drink, I'd go to the UK and spend it on drink. Alas, I'm in America. One of these days...
For now, I'm officially a fan. In real life and on Facebook.
OddBrian
Here's a video I made of their street concert in Cardiff Bay on the 18th of July. Not only is their music great, they know how to entertain and involve a crowd. Enjoy!
http://www.vimeo.com/5667989