Southland Blues

by Jon Pepper, October 1998
Swing Dance Party

This album contains another 17 cuts from Flattop Tom & his band and they show that even a band that was as good as they were to begin with can improve.  This third collection continues and refines the trends that Tom had already shown in his first two discs. 

On this disc, Tom mixes blues & swing in a very tight mix that shows how big band jazz can join with jump blues and come out all right.  There are rocking instrumentals, two different female vocalists, including the lovely and talented Taryn Donath, who also adds her great piano playing to this already tight band.

Tom's voice is rough and ready and he sings about all different kinds of subjects including a song dedicated to DJ and Southland Blues Writer Left Coast Carl and his "Left Coast Carl's BBQ."  Slip in a great tribute by Bob Robles to T-Bone Walker, "1992" and you have one very slick album.

For Tom to keep improving his albums, he may have to make sure the next one can give swing dance lessons at home and take you on a date, too.  If you don't own any Flattop Tom fine discs and have not seem him live, you have no idea what you are missing.

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