Review and More

Our Review

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (BBVD) is a profoundly cool name for a modern swing band. The brainchild of Scotty Morris, BBVD formed 15 years ago and now features seven talented "daddys" (Morris, Kurt Sodergren, Dirk Shumaker, Andy Rowley, Glen "The Kid" Marhevka, Karl Hunter and Joshua Levy). This band will set you swingin' from stem to stern; only "We Three Kings" is presented with a relatively subdued treatment.

Everything You Want for Christmas is BBVD's only full-length holiday album, and it's a stunner. The songs are eclectic and refreshing--I was familiar with only half the tunes. Santa's "a real cool cat with shades and his old red hat" on Morris' original "Rockabilly Christmas," an explosively fun swing number that opens the CD and sets the tone for what follows. Morris penned two other songs on the disc, and both are also holiday naturals in this setting--catchy, lively, and borderline addictive.

One favorite number here is "Mr. Heatmiser," which will amuse anyone who has lived with a chronic thermostat pusher (either up or down). I had never heard the song before; it apparently originated in a 1970s Claymation television special! Other terrific gems include "Jingle Bells (Cha Cha)" with its healthy emphasis on a very low horn and percussive cha-cha-chas. Finally, the CD does include an untitled final track, which is essentially a fun reprise of "Jingle Bells"--very nicely done!

So BBVD has now jumped onto my list of "new favorites." This group is all fun, all the time, and this 2004 holiday release may definitely qualify as Everything You Want for Christmas!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

More

From the liner notes:

Produced by Scotty Morris & BBVD
Executive Producer: Chad Jensen
All songs arranged by Joshua Levy with BBVD
Tracks 1, 5 & 6: written by Scotty Morris

BBVD:
Scotty Morris: vocals & guitar
Kurt Sodergren: drums
Dirk Shumaker: acoustic bass & vocals
Joshua Levy: piano
Glen "The Kid" Marhevka: trumpet
Andy Rowley: baritone sax & vocals
Karl Hunter: alto, tenor & baritone sax, bass clarinet, clarinet & flute

With:
Lenny Castro: percussion
Lee Thornburg: lead trumpet
Dennis Faris: lead trumpet
Ira Nepus: tenor & bass trombone
Alex Henderson: tenor & bass trombone
Ruben Estrada: vibes
Greg Varlotta: banjo
Brent Harding: acoustic "Dog House" bass
Ronnie Manaog: timpani, glockenspiel, marimba, sleighbells & wood blocks

From the Vanguard Web site:

In 1989, [Scotty] Morris, jaded by life as a young studio guitarist, decided to launch a three-piece jazz, blues and swing combo. The trio included drummer Kurt Sodergren and was named Big Bad Voodoo Daddy after a fateful meeting with blues guitar legend Albert Collins at one of his concerts. "He signed my poster 'To Scotty, the big bad voodoo daddy'", Morris explains. "I thought it was the coolest name I ever heard on one of the coolest musical nights I ever had. So when it came time to name this band, I didn't really have a choice. I felt like it was handed down to me."

In the years that followed, Morris and Sodergren formed the rest of the band, which includes Dirk Shumaker on string bass, Andy Rowley on saxophone, Glen 'The Kid' Marhevka on trumpet, Karl Hunter on saxophones and clarinet, and Joshua Levy on piano. The chemistry between the band, like the success that soon followed, was undeniable.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Everything You Want for Christmas

Order from Amazon

Track List