Vinyl Vault — Cowboy Jazz, “That’s What We Like About the West”

Hey buckaroos, the Stock Show’s in town and that means it’s time to put a little twang into our swing on the Vinyl Vault. We’ll hear the first album from the band Cowboy Jazz entitled “That’s What We Like About the West.” Released in 1981 on Rounder Records, the album featured a mix of standards and band originals.

Vinyl Vault is sponsored by Vinyl Me, Please

Cowboy Jazz was a sextet hailing from Maryland, but its sound was firmly grounded in the real estate west of the Mississippi. Active throughout most of the 1980s, the band’s most distinguishing feature was its three-part female vocal harmonies. Kate Bennett, also on guitar, Denise Carlson, also on fiddle and Deanna Bogart, also on piano put on Andrews Sisters style harmonies backed by Barry Siess on steel guitar and electric guitar, Tony DeFontes on bass and Charlie Crane on bass.

Cowboy Jazz was a direct descendant of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys and Asleep at the Wheel. Count on precise harmonies, tricky syncopation, and relentless swing, all with a heapin’ helpin’ of the blues. The program includes “Cow-Cow Boogie,” one from the Ella Fitzgerald book, “Too Much Fun” from Commander Cody, and Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’.” The band’s originals tap into the same fun-loving vein.

So for a rootin’-tootin’ good time, join Geoff Anderson for the Vinyl Vault on Tuesday, January 18 at 8:30 pm on KUVO JAZZ.

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