Bridgetown Sextet - New Old-Fashioned

75 years ago jazz was a rebellious, hip, high-energy, hard-driving, untamed, unpredictable and unapologetically joyous cult phenomenon, and on the new Bridgetown Sextet album, it still is. The jazz of the 1920s and 30s was the sound of excitement itself in the hands of it's original masters, and while that essence still survives in the earliest recordings for the few who know them, the music has too often been recreated as a bloodless caricature of it's former self. Andrew Oliver and Scott Kennedy organized the Bridgetown Sextet in an effort to express early hot jazz and swing with the intensity and authenticity it deserves. The band plays the music of the prohibition and depression eras as though it were written yesterday, not to preserve it, but to rediscover it. This album represents the new school of old jazz. The Sextet has been performing in the Portland area for over three years and has since gained a loyal following among roots music enthusiasts and Portland's thriving swing dance community. This new album was recorded at SE Portland's Map Room Studio with a pair of microphones, capturing the sound of the band in it's natural state on a variety of forgotten gems from the swing era and before. The band features self-taught pianist/drummer Scott Kennedy with his amazing command of the demanding stride piano tradition. Andrew Oliver, a figure on the Portland jazz scene in many varied groups, performs on piano, cornet, and drums. Long time New Orleanian David Evans provides his trademark lyrical clarinet and tenor sax stylings. John Moak dazzles as always with his command of the trombone, and Doug Sammons on rhythm guitar and vocals and Eric Gruber on bass anchor the band with a rock-solid pulse.

1) Who's Sorry Now
2) Sent for You Yesterday
3) That's When I'll Come Back to You
4) If I Could Be with You (One Hour Tonight)
5) I'm Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee
6) Shivers
7) Old Fashioned Love
8) Sporting House Rag
9) Black Stick Blues
10) I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say
11) New Orleans Blues
12) Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
13) Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine
14) King Porter Stomp
15) C Jam Blues