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Big Joe & The Dynaflows: All Night Long (Severn Records)
The swing fad may have come and gone but that doesn't seem to phase Big Joe & The Dynaflows who've been laying down their swinging brand of blues well before recent fads and hopefully will long after.
All Night Long, like Big Joe's previous four records, swings mightily and his love for vintage blues and R&B is evident in every track. It's good too see someone keeping the flame alive for classic R&B but don't mistake the music for a nostalgia act as the music remains fresh and alive.
As a drummer, singer and bandleader Big Joe Maher is like a latter day Roy Milton who shared the same duties for his band The Solid Senders- one of the hottest West Coast jump bands of the 40's and 50's. For Big Joe it's the Dynaflows, a tight swinging unit that keep things jumping. Lending a helping hand are numerous guest stars including label mate Benjie Porecki on Hammond Organ and Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, who's played with just about everybody, on tenor and Baritone sax. "All Night Long" kicks things off in classic jump blues mode, "It Really Breaks My Heart" is a mid-tempo number in the same mode and the instrumental "Big Nick" is solidly in the pocket featuring fine piano from John Cocuzzi. Big Joe and the band aren't locked into one style and take some interesting twists and turns on the New Orleans flavored shuffle of "Down In Louisiana", the 50's stylings of "My Baby's Tops", the late night groove on "Ham Hocks" featuring some smoky organ and the humorous Louie Jordan influenced "Third Class Citizen."
All Night Long is a sure fired party starter that'll keep your party swinging from dusk til' dawn.
Jeff Harris WITR, Rochester, NY
All Night Long reviewed on Blues Bytes web site
With swing making the massive resurgence it has the past few years, outfits such as Big Joe & The Dynaflows are finding wider appreciative audiences for the music that has found new life with listeners that were not even born during it's heyday.
All Night Long is the latest blend of traditional Kansas City jump blues, R&B and just a taste of New Orleans swing masterfully stirred together with the jiving vocals and shuffling drumming of Joe Maher to produce a smooth wonderfully crafted album. If one didn't know better you would think this recording was cut during the golden era of swing because of it's totally original, yet nostalgic arrangements.
Nine of the album's 12 selections are original numbers written either by Big Joe himself or by other members of The Dynaflows. The title track starts thing off with a high energy dance piece tailor-made for cutting a rug or two, and is followed by the stuttering samba-ish boogie of "Down In Louisiana." Jimmy Witherspoon's "My Baby's Tops" receives a hip shaking treatment and blazing tenor sax work from Derek Huston that makes it irresistible to move to, as does the original "Ham Hocks" featuring equally smoking sax notes from the ever so talented Mark Kazanoff.
The lone instrumental, "Mr. Nick," and the smoldering "Honey Bee" are both dynamic grooves evoking memories of zoot suits and swirling skirts on the dance floor. The current incarnation of The Dynaflows are: Ivan Applerouth on guitars, John Cocuzzi burning up the piano, Steve Potter on upright bass and Joe Stanley blowing sax. Fellow label mate Benjie Porecki also lends his exquisite B3 talents to two numbers.
If you're already a fan of this very tight unit then this latest biscuit will more than satisfy. If you're new to their sound, then All Night Long is a terrific introduction. Pop this one in your player and make some room because your feet may just take over.
--- Steve Hinrichsen
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CD Reviews |
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All Night Long
All Night Long (2000) |
"All Night Long, like Big Joe's previous four records, swings mightily and his love for vintage blues and R&B is evident in every track. It's good too see someone keeping the flame alive for classic R&B but don't mistake the music for a nostalgia act as the music remains fresh and alive." Jeff Harris, WITR www.baddogblues.com "The new CD titled
"All Night Long" by Big Joe and the Dynaflows on the
Severn label is excellent swingin' Rhythm & Blues! Finger-snappin'
and toe-tappin' from start to finish, the band flat out
swings!" Joe Maher's vocals are deep into late 40's
early 50's sound, and Lead Guitar player, Ivan Applerouth cooks
ala T.Bone /Robillard, through-out the CD. Sax Legend Joe
Stanley sets in on three tracks. It is a Solid upper-cut of Late
Night, Smokey Bar-Styled Rhythm & Blues. It's Swingin'
Blues-----and it Shucks and Jives ! It's what I like! |
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I’m Still Swingin’
I'm Still
Swingin' (1998) |
1998 Washington Area Music Award for "Best Blues Recording" "I have been a big fan of BIG JOE's for years. I love I'M STILL SWINGIN'. It's his best effort to date." Anson Funderburgh "Like any good gumbo, the individual parts make up a greater whole. As the chef of the mix, Big Joe makes this platter Swing." Bill Wax
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| King
of the Honky Tonk Sax
Joe Stanley |
"Saxophonist Joe Stanley once again trods the fertile musical fields that were the backbone of R&B in The Fabulous Fifties." Vintage Guitar Magazine
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| Swingin'
and Burnin'
John
Cocuzzi |
"Sit back and stretch out for an entertaining 60 minutes+ of straight ahead jazz ala Benny Goodman Quintet." Jazz Improv Magazine
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Mojo
Mojo (1994) |
"Big Joe Maher & Jeff Sarli played together in the Washington, D.C. jump-style rhythm and blues band Big Joe & The Dynaflows. For this CD they change speeds, singing and playing classic blues tunes in stripped down and laid back grooves." Cadence Magazine
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Layin' in the Alley
Layin’ in the
Alley (1994) |
1994 Washington Area Music Award for "Best Blues Recording" "Above all the Dynaflows play jump blues - blues meant for partying, dancing and having a good time. So roll back the rug and turn up the volume. Like their Buick namesake, Big Joe & the Dynaflows are road tested and ready to roll. You've got a smooth ride ahead as you cruise with these blues." Terence McArdle, DC Blues Society
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