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Our Review

The next time some irritated old coot says, "They don't make music like THAT anymore!", please point him in the direction of Sister Swing, a superb trio of women (Leigh Hannah, Valerie Marston, Paul Chafe-Merrill) who emulate the very best of swing music from the 1930s and 1940s. Those who lovingly recall the exciting harmonies of the incomparable Andrews Sisters will swoon to Sister Swing's incredible time machine. Stocking Stuffers is true to the 1930s/1940s formula in every respect, and the results are classic.

The 15 tracks include the jaunty holiday numbers that are obvious for a group like this ("Jing-A-Ling," "The Man with the Bag," "Santa Baby") and plenty of traditional and contemporary carols. The opening "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is a pull-out-the-stops show stopper, and the remaking of "Mr. Sandman" into "Mr. Santa" is especially cool. The instrumental accompaniment is excellent; the relatively small ensemble enhances the vocalists, but never crowds them. The mood is upbeat and buoyant throughout.

Although everything works well here, my favorites tend to favor the gentler numbers where the harmonies melt like butter on hot toast; these tracks include "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Christmas Waltz."

Sister Swing's Stocking Stuffers is a terrific blast from the past! They are the Andrews Sisters reincarnated in a most impressive fashion. Enjoy!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Sister Swing:
Leigh Hannah
Valerie Marston
Paula Chafe-Merrill

Featuring:
Bonnie Otto, piano
Jack Stanfill, drums
Lenny Pollachi, bass
Kurt Pearsall, trumpet
Kristy Reed, reeds
Brad Hammett, trombone

Special Guests:
Otis Mourning, reeds
Ron Cunha, trombone

Produced by Valerie Marston
Recorded, Engineered and Mixed by Bruce Bolin

Through the years as we get a little older, we still experience the tingle of excitement during the holiday season. There is the sparkle of all the Christmas lights in the neighborhood, the feel of velvet and the smell of pine and cinnamon. Christmas songs bring back the special moments of Christmases past: Christmas Eve engagements, the anticipation in our children's faces reflecting our own childhood memories, and the warm comfort of being with those we love.

This album should be played when you get the Christmas decoration box down from the attic and open it after it's been hibernating all year. It should be enjoyed when you are setting the table for Christmas dinner. It should be cranked when you are baking for the holidays or wrapping gifts. But most of all, we hope you will dance to it in the kitchen with the ones you love. Merry Christmas everybody!

Sister Swing

Stocking Stuffers

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Track List