It Don't Mean A Thing (if it ain't got that swing)
Honeysuckle Rose
Time Changes Everything
Under Paris Skies
What a glorious musical era it was back in the 20s, 30s and 40s! Lyrics, melodies, feelings all perfectly fit together to both entertain and elicit emotional responses. Presenting a well-arranged set of swing and jazz favo... more »rites (with guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass, steel guitar, vocals), these stellar musicians capture the romance of a bygone day when life was much less encumbered and chaotic. Beth McNamara (acoustic bass guitar) and Jerry Ashford (guitar) have performed as a duo called Moonglow for over a decade. In 2004, they met mandolinist Joe Ross at an arts festival in Roseburg, Oregon, and he was soon picking and singing right along with them. In 2006, well-known luthier Todd Clinesmith moved to Oregon and was recruited for certain gigs requiring a western swing flavor. Arkansas champion fiddler Tim Crouch was the perfect complement with his fine bow work and touch of tasty percussion. Despite the age of these songs, their musical execution is exciting and fresh.
A 1934 classic, the title cut sets the stage with imagination and thrill ... way up in the blue, floating through the air, beautiful songs coming from everywhere. The effect of the moon and other celestial bodies on one s affection for another is certainly a recurring theme from these musical lunarians of love. From a 1930ish version of Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers Wahoo, that song exclaims give me a moon, a prairie moon, give me a heart that s true. After Ross sings about Miles of Texas and all the stars up in the skies, it only seems appropriate that the trio (McNamara, Ashford, and Ross) gives a rousing rendition of the 1921 hit, The Sheik of Araby, with its insight that the stars that shine above will light our way to love. When performing live, the fun and lunar-tic group often gets captivated crowds singing the phrase with no clothes on after each line in the tune. On one hand, this enthralling music is rather serious; on the other, it s a hoot! But never clichéd or trite. Also from those grand twenties, Everybody Loves My Baby reinforces the theme She s my Sheba, I m her Sheik.
Whether up-tempo or slower and reflective, charming love songs with witty lyrics are this band s forte, and your smiles will beam. The bumpy road to love is well-documented in Ira & George Gershwin s They Can t Take That Away From Me. While Joe Ross admits that some like to sing it soft and low, others like to let it go, (Wahoo), Beth McNamara s silky smooth vocalizing on I Don t Want To Set The World On Fire will surely start a flame in your own heart despite her admission that she s lost all ambition for worldly acclaim. Beth and Jerry sing about the spell of love ( Scotch and Soda ) and how to make even honeybees jealous ( Honeysuckle Rose ). Confection, goodness knows! Drawing inspiration from King of Western Swing Bob Wills, Joe sings about dreaming dreams in vain ( I m Confessing That I Love You ), as well as love s refrain and blue skies ahead in Time Changes Everything. The band gives the rhythm everything they ve got just like Duke Ellington used to ( It Don t Mean A Thing ). The music s also spiced up with some savory Latin and Gypsyjazz zest. Tico Tico is a tangy instrumental, and Under Paris Skies (Sous Le Ciel De Paris) brings out the Gypsy in a totally different way than Embraceable You does. From start to finish, this quintet keeps reinforcing an important and thoughtful message about these beautiful songs .... they re simply heavenly! And that music about the emotion called love never ceases to captivate.« less
What a glorious musical era it was back in the 20s, 30s and 40s! Lyrics, melodies, feelings all perfectly fit together to both entertain and elicit emotional responses. Presenting a well-arranged set of swing and jazz favorites (with guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass, steel guitar, vocals), these stellar musicians capture the romance of a bygone day when life was much less encumbered and chaotic. Beth McNamara (acoustic bass guitar) and Jerry Ashford (guitar) have performed as a duo called Moonglow for over a decade. In 2004, they met mandolinist Joe Ross at an arts festival in Roseburg, Oregon, and he was soon picking and singing right along with them. In 2006, well-known luthier Todd Clinesmith moved to Oregon and was recruited for certain gigs requiring a western swing flavor. Arkansas champion fiddler Tim Crouch was the perfect complement with his fine bow work and touch of tasty percussion. Despite the age of these songs, their musical execution is exciting and fresh.
A 1934 classic, the title cut sets the stage with imagination and thrill ... way up in the blue, floating through the air, beautiful songs coming from everywhere. The effect of the moon and other celestial bodies on one s affection for another is certainly a recurring theme from these musical lunarians of love. From a 1930ish version of Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers Wahoo, that song exclaims give me a moon, a prairie moon, give me a heart that s true. After Ross sings about Miles of Texas and all the stars up in the skies, it only seems appropriate that the trio (McNamara, Ashford, and Ross) gives a rousing rendition of the 1921 hit, The Sheik of Araby, with its insight that the stars that shine above will light our way to love. When performing live, the fun and lunar-tic group often gets captivated crowds singing the phrase with no clothes on after each line in the tune. On one hand, this enthralling music is rather serious; on the other, it s a hoot! But never clichéd or trite. Also from those grand twenties, Everybody Loves My Baby reinforces the theme She s my Sheba, I m her Sheik.
Whether up-tempo or slower and reflective, charming love songs with witty lyrics are this band s forte, and your smiles will beam. The bumpy road to love is well-documented in Ira & George Gershwin s They Can t Take That Away From Me. While Joe Ross admits that some like to sing it soft and low, others like to let it go, (Wahoo), Beth McNamara s silky smooth vocalizing on I Don t Want To Set The World On Fire will surely start a flame in your own heart despite her admission that she s lost all ambition for worldly acclaim. Beth and Jerry sing about the spell of love ( Scotch and Soda ) and how to make even honeybees jealous ( Honeysuckle Rose ). Confection, goodness knows! Drawing inspiration from King of Western Swing Bob Wills, Joe sings about dreaming dreams in vain ( I m Confessing That I Love You ), as well as love s refrain and blue skies ahead in Time Changes Everything. The band gives the rhythm everything they ve got just like Duke Ellington used to ( It Don t Mean A Thing ). The music s also spiced up with some savory Latin and Gypsyjazz zest. Tico Tico is a tangy instrumental, and Under Paris Skies (Sous Le Ciel De Paris) brings out the Gypsy in a totally different way than Embraceable You does. From start to finish, this quintet keeps reinforcing an important and thoughtful message about these beautiful songs .... they re simply heavenly! And that music about the emotion called love never ceases to captivate.
CD Reviews
Benny Goodman Would Like It
8 piece box | 07/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The innovative and ever-versatile Joe Ross has gone off in a whole new direction with his latest effort, "Moonglow"-a fusion of two quintessentially American genres, swing and bluegrass and the result is a pretty pleasin' easy listenin' for folks of a certain age.
Sixteen cuts mostly of American jazz and pop standards, including the title song "Moonglow", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "Scotch and Soda", "The Sheik of Araby", "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", "Embraceable You", and "There I Said It Again"- all made familiar and beloved by the likes of George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Fats Waller, the Dorsey Brothers, Kingston Trio, and more- have been scored here for fiddles, guitar, mandolin, djembe (which is as close as this group gets to drums), steel guitar, and bass. Vocals are provided by Beth McNamara, Jerry Ashford, and Ross.
These guys aren't just noodling around after hours experimenting with different styles. The arrangements and performances are tight and polished as typified by a lively "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", a masterful "Honeysuckle Rose" and the two instrumentals- the Brazilian classic "Tico Tico" and the French waltz "Under Paris Skies". It takes nerve and verve to come up with a fresh way to treat standards that have been recorded hundreds of times over the past 50 to 80 years and it works.
I enjoyed "Moonglow". I think Benny Goodman would, too. Now, if only they could adapt "Sing, Sing, Sing" to bluegrass with djembes...
8 Piece box
"
Brilliant collection of enduring classics
Eadsey | 07/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Playing Time: 49:44 - Ashford, McNamara, Ross and friends are outstanding on this wonderful collection of old jazz and swing standards. Classics like the title cut, "Everybody Loves My Baby," "Embraceable You," "Tico Tico" and more are covered very charmingly with Joe Ross on mandolin, Beth McNamara on bass, and Jerry Ashford on guitar. All trade off on lead vocal duties, and the trio blends very well on solid harmony. Sitting in are Tim Crouch on fiddles and djembe, and Todd Clinesmith on steel guitar.
This is a very appealing change of pace for Joe Ross, who for the past few years now has garnered well-deserved attention for his outstanding collections of original bluegrass material. Moonglow shows off an entirely new and exciting side of him that fans and new listeners are sure to enjoy.
Fittingly, the title cut opens the collection, with Jerry showing off his talents as a crooner, as fiddle, mandolin, and guitar weave stunning musical lines. This one sets the stage for the good things coming; "Everybody Loves My Baby," lots of fun with its tight jazz harmony and another standout lead vocal by Jerry. "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire," highlights Beth's breathtaking lead vocal, with she and Jerry sharing the narration of two star-crossed lovers. Joe shows off a fine bent for Texas swing with "Miles Of Texas" and "Wahoo." A standout piece in an album bursting with them is "There I Said It Again," Beth's vocal again gorgeous with another strong supporting effort on fiddle and guitar. From there, the band changes speeds very well and turns in another well-rounded three-part harmony on a swinging arrangement of "It Don't Mean A Thing." Beth and Jerry join marvelously on "Embraceable You," vocals trading off and uniting on the chorus on some lovely two-part harmony. The collection closes out with a haunting instrumental arrangement of "Under Paris Skies."
Moonglow is a wonderful trip back in time, harkening us back to those wonderful days of crooners and love songs. A brilliant collection of enduring classics for any fan of good music. (Joe Falletta, San Diego, CA)
"
Loved this CD
Dorothy C. Liles | Bethesda, Maryland | 07/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a really mellow CD,mixing some of the old time favorites with a bit of blue grass and country music. I particularly liked "Embraceable You" and "I Don't Wnat to set the World on Fire," because they brought back many pleasant memories, when as a teenager I hung with the local crowd at the deli and listened to these wonderful songs. Beth McNamara, Jerry Ashford,Joe Ross and the others make a great team. Their voices blend together beautifully. If you want to kick back and really enjoy some great music, this is the CD for you."
"Moonglow" -- Classical American Music at its Best
Keepers of Aloha Productions | 08/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Long before hip hop, long before rap, long before groove, house, reggae, bop, rock, pop, fusion, disco, funk, metal or punk, long before even the Beatles or Elvis, there existed a genre of music that was above and beyond all genres: It was Classical American Music, the music of the Dorsey Brothers, Irving Mills, Bob Wills, George and Ira Gershwin, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Rogers and Hart, music that brought this great nation of ours through the Depression and World War II. "Moonglow," the CD recently released by Jerry Ashford, Beth McNamara and Joe Ross, brings Classical American Music to life. It recaptures the inventiveness, smooth harmonies, wit, and instrumental versatility that characterized this golden area of artistic achievement. Hats off to Ashford, McNamara and Ross for keeping musical greatness alive!
John Capron, attorney at law, singer-songwriter, and lover of fine American music.
"
Moonglow
Michelle A. Hall | Roseburg, Oregon, United States | 08/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tasty, tasty stuff. Although I expected this CD to have some good music based on my past exposure to these musicians, I must admit that what Moonglow has delivered was far beyond my expectations. A splendid collection of 16 "standards" that has the feel and sway of the bygone days of the Big Band Swing era, and yet is presented in a contemporary style that demonstrates respect for the original composers, musicians and singers and the "outside-the-box" creativity of these modern day artists. Most CDs have one or two standout tunes and one or two others that fail to measure up to the rest. This collection flows from one pleasing rendition to another. I really did like the entire CD, although I must confess that there were several tunes that I found myself hitting the repeat button on...Sheik of Araby, It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing and the sassy Tico Tico. Tim Crouch and Todd Clinesmith certainly add the spit and polish to the solid musical foundation laid down by Beth McNamara, Jerry Ashford and the eclectic Joe Ross. Ok...enough raving...now back to the music."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1