Fat Trick is explosive, rambunctious, infectious, giddy, and directly in your face like a close talker or a far too rich dessert. Entering stage right in the late 90's from a punk and psychobilly background, Atsushi and Yokoyama have created a jazz sound that is a pastiche of neo swing, gypsy & dixieland jazz, with perhaps just a splash of Spike Jones, and they've wrapped it all up for you neatly in a package they've titled "Little Fats & Swingin' Hot Shot Party."

This band has made a name for itself in Japan performing as a duet with multiple accompanying musicians on the streets of Tokyo until 2005, when they finally settled on their current configuration.  They have released several other albums, this being their third, and they have entertained at Fuji Rock Festival, the biggest rock music event in Japan. A fascinating, if surprising achievement for a band that draws more from Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, than most (if not all) of their rock festival contemporaries.

The album takes off in a frenzy with a rendition of Bresler & Wynn's "Five Guys Named Moe," allowing a showcase of the wondrous and visually exciting percussive excitement that this band has at its disposal.  Namely; guitar, banjo, trumpet, washboard, spoon, wood bass, alto sax, clarinet, wash tub bass, ukulele and a violin.  The same speed and swingin' energy carries through directly into the second track "A Sky-Blue Shirt and a Rainbow Tie."  Honestly, half the fun of listening to these recordings is picking out the different sounds you're listening to—and one can only imagine what their Japanese street shows in front of various stations must look and feel like. Atsushi's energy and vocals on the first two tracks are filled with appealing enthusiasm, and one seriously wonders where he finds the time to breathe. This is all definitely true of the equally frenetic seventh track on the album "Cake Walkin' Babies," which likewise bounces and swings with a fury of sound.

The medley track "Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue/Lulu's Back in Town," is Dixieland fun, and a real gem for the Charleston enthusiasts.  The washboard and the spoons with the violin accompaniment are especially fun in this imminently danceable selection.  The mood changes to pensive with "If I Could Be With You," a gypsy flavored, bluesy song that has a nice slow drag feel to it, underlining the versatility of mood the band is capable of. You'll find more of this easy going oasis in Little Girl," though at a more moderate tempo. The change of pace to slow or medium in both tracks really allows you to enjoy the instrumentation. "Get Out That Bed" jumps hard like old Fats Waller, features an excellent sax riff, and swings hard, as does "Diga Diga Doo," which calls to mind Spike Jones with all of the fun percussive elements, but don't be mistaken by all of the busy extras, the beat is absolutely pure swing.  The final track on the album hides some genuine extra music at the end—don't miss out!  The main selection of the last track is a sleepy performance of "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," placing a solid emphasis on guitar and violin, closing the event with a softness to contrast the roar that started it off, and blowing a lovely gypsy breeze into the fire of one very hot party.  Fat Trick aims to please with infectious fun and thoughtful surprises.

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Frankie Hagan is a certified professional dance instructor and a member of the NDTA (National Dance Teacher's Association), and the World Swing Dance Council. His articles and reviews have appeared in swing-dance publications for several years. Learn more about Frankie at his website: www.dancefrankie.com