Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Berger and the Sultans of Swing: Doin' the Do!

119

David Berger and the Sultans of Swing: Doin' the Do!

By

Sign in to view read count
David Berger and the Sultans of Swing: Doin' the Do!
A generous helping of well-cooked nouveau swing by David Berger's undeniably talented Sultans of Swing that's easy to swallow but doesn't sharpen one's craving for more of the same.

Berger arranged everything except the album's bonus track, Duke Ellington / Mildred Hill's "Birthday Jam," which he transcribed. While the charts are admirable, the music itself is on the whole less than exhilarating, especially the eight vocals (on thirteen tracks), half a dozen by Aria Hendricks, the others by trombonist Wayne Goodman ("Oops, My Bad!") and a trio comprised of Goodman, saxophonist Matt Hong and trumpeter Brian Pareschi ("Exactly Like You"). There are some engaging selections ("Good Queen Bess," "Ya Gotta Live It," for example) but they are counterbalanced by too many others that are no better than pedestrian.

Even so, the Sultans are seasoned pros who play well as a unit and solo capably whenever asked to stand and deliver. Trumpeters Steve Bernstein and Irv Grossman, clarinetist Dan Block, alto Jerry Dodgion and trombonist Noah Bless are splendid on Johnny Hodges—Lunceford—like "Good Queen Bess," Dodgion, Block, Pareschi and trombonist Joel Helleny likewise on Berger's "Ya Gotta Live It." Grossman, by the way, sounds like he's been memorizing pages from the Clark Terry Manual of Jazz Improvisation. Speaking of solos, no less than thirteen of the Sultans have their say on the bouncy "Birthday Jam" (subtitled "Happy Birthday Stompy Jones").

The Sultans of Swing have recorded one other album that we know of, The Harlem Nutcracker, and that one is worth seeking out. As for this one, it has its moments but not nearly enough of them to earn a clear-cut endorsement. If, however, your appetite for big band swing (and big band vocals) is larger than ours, you may find Doin' the Do! altogether pleasing.

Track Listing

Are You Fer It; Makin? Whoopee; Doin? the Do; My Heart Belongs to Daddy; Exacty Like You; Miss Thing; Good Queen Bess; How to Get You Out of My Heart; Do Nothin? Till You Hear from Me; Ya Gotta Live It; Oops, My Bad!; Busy Woman Blues; Birthday Jam (Happy Birthday, Stompy Jones) (58:54).

Personnel

David Berger
band / ensemble / orchestra

David Berger, conductor, arranger; Jerry Dodgion, Matt Hong, Dan Block, Mark Hynes, Jay Brandford, reeds; Bob Millikan, Brian Pareschi, Irv Grossman, Steve Bernstein, trumpet; Wayne Goodman, Joel Helleny, Noah Bless, trombone; Isaac Ben Ayala, piano; Dennis Irwin, bass; Jimmy Madison, drums; Aria Hendricks, vocals; Wayne Goodman, Matt Hong, Brian Pareschi, vocal trio.

Album information

Title: Doin' the Do! | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Such Sweet Thunder

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.