Southland BLUES
October 1998

by - Jon Pepper

Flattop TOM & His Jump Cats
Club Caprice, Redondo Beach, CA

Flattop TOM & His Jump Cats celebrated the release of their third CD with a release party at the Friday night Swing Dance at Club Caprice.  The album is titled Swing Dance Party and that's what this show was.

Sporting the largest dance floor in the South Bay, Club Caprice has been running a successful series of dances and this was no exception.  Tom's band is on of the top swing/blues bands in the Southland and if they keep playing like they played this night, it won't remain
a secret very long.

Tom is a hearty vocalist with an amazing range.  he can both croon out a blues and shout out a swing number.  His version of Louis Jordan's "Caldonia" is top-notch and the songs off his new CD really just complimented the
whole set.

Among the people who deserve recognition in Tom's band, Taryn Donath heads the list.  This talented young lady can not only sing, but she even got up from behind the piano and gave a fine reading of a song.  Also a well worthy of mention are Bruce King on the drums, Dave Robles on guitar and the entire horn section.  In fact, this whole band is very tight.

If you want to dance your night away, go out and check this band.  They will make even the most uncoordinated of us want to get up and cut a rug, and that's the truth daddy-o.