Dancing away your blues, while certainly not a new idea, is always appropriate in trying financial times. First appearing on the New York swing scene in 1998, the Yalloppin' Hounds have since made an impact with their fusion of jazz and hip-hop in their self-described sub-genre, singularly referenced as "ghetto swing." With their most recent release, The Great Recession, they have become more topical, fusing 1930s depression-era with modern recessionary views.

Perhaps the most transcendent is the first track, "Swing Your Soul," an uptempo dance piece—with just a dash of “Puttin' on the Ritz”—that showcases the band's considerable musician talent as well as Leigh Vaiano's vocals, which have a Keely Smith-like quality in tone and presentation. The album's title track has a moving, slow-blues quality, and makes good use of Peter Hartmann's vocal styling. In particular, this song explores the genre that this ensemble is creating, made all the more interesting when you are greeted by a rap sequence prior to the extended blues-horn sections.

"Can You Make it Swing for Me?" is a lighter recording that has Lord Sledge doing his best Louis Armstrong vocal channeling in a stylized duet with Vaiano. The track has a great horn sequence and a nice, easy dancing, mellow feel to it with just a splash of Dixieland. "Lost in a Dream," is an unexpected little gem of a bolero-type lounge tune, and the sax work that frames the vocals is marvelous, as is the driving percussion.  There are some great reworkings of timeless jump-blues standards for the dancer or music enthusiast. "Caldonia," "Baby Work Out," and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," all aim to please, with the latter closing the album as an almost wistful hope for the future and or at least better tomorrows. There is plenty of fusion to remind the listener he is in the 21st century and amusing tracks such as "Fake Ass Bitches" certainly bear this out—though not many rap artists give shout-outs to Frankie Manning as found here.

If you like a little hip-hop mixed with your jazz and blues, together with a healthy dose of originals and a smattering of standards framed within the context of the modern recession, then the latest public offering from the battered-fedora Yalloppin' Hounds is certainly for you.

http://www.yalloppinhounds.com

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