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Britain's own top western swing band the
Swing Commanders have been gaining an even greater following
over the past 18 months as they are eagerly booked to perform
at the many country music festivals around the country. Based
in my home county of Lancashire, the band comprises of Peter
O'Reilly (lead vocals - rhythm guitar), Jessie Winter (steel
and lead guitar - harmonica), Gaynor Sutcliffe (fiddle- piano
accordion - vocals), Patrick Fitzsimons (percussion) and Danny
Morello (stand-up bass).
Take It Away is the Swing Commanders third
release offering 12 tracks with a mix of fine country and sensational
swing numbers taking us back to the late 1930's and 40's. The
band open the album with the traditional "Beaumont Rag"
with Gaynor driving a foot tapping fiddle-led instrumental along
with Jessie adding some excellent steel and guitar work. A second
instrumental can also be found later with "Cotton Patch
Rag" very much as the former with great instrumental work
from Gaynor.
Lead vocals come thick and fast from Peter,
starting with the rockabilly edged "Let's Rock" and
later Hank Williams' "Hey Good Looking" in such fine
mode that even old Hank would be proud of it. Gaynor joins Peter
on vocals for the much more sedate "Sentimental Journey"
(a massive hit for Doris Day in the 1940's when she sang with
Les Brown and his Band of  Renown)
with an easy swing style. The pace picks up with Duke Ellington's
smash hit "Lady Be Good" (George & Ira Gershwin)
giving the whole band the opportunity to shine with their musical
breaks and especially some dynamic bass-work from Danny.
The Swing Commanders never fail to please
and they'll have you two-steppin' around the living room as
they whisk you off to Fort Worth, Texas with their lively version
of "Big Balls In Cowtown" (Hoyle Nix) fusing the whole
band together. A soothing effect comes with the Jim Reeves standard
"I Love Because" with Gaynor showing her skills with
the piano accordion and along with some delicate steel-work
Jessie adds to the atmosphere with some handy harmonica playing.
The accordion sets the mood once again with "It's Now Or
Never" as Jessie adds guitar and steel breaks and Peter's
expressive vocals makes this number and the whole album a winner.
Whatever the Swing Commanders play it's
always rich in quality making the band top notch above the rest.
If you have the opportunity to catch the Swing Commanders live
don't miss the chance and pick-up a copy of this scintillating
collection……Take It Away guy's!!!
Graham Lees Oct 2006
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