Hot Club of Cowtown
Dev’lish Mary (Hightone)
The third release from Austin’s Hot Club of Cowtown is a 16-song collection of their Django Reinhardt-cum-Stephane Grappelli gypsy jazz, this time graced by Lloyd Maines’ production, Bobby Koefer’s pedal steel, and even an unmistakable yodel from Don Walser. The local trio have long since perfected their New York-by-way-of-Texas swing, and this time around, the playing is as spicy as ever. Fiddlesse Elana Fremerman is possessed of a rather plain voice, but there’s a sweet, undeniable charm to her delivery on “I’d Understand Why” and “You Don’t Care What Happens to Me.” Since there’s no sense in trying to update this brand of music, the band comes across with great versions of standards such as “Star Dust” and “Devil’s Dream,” but the Hot Club really shines on the whirlwind swirl of “Tchavolo Swing” and Joe Venuti’s “The Wild Dog,” with dark, furious playing and a dash of mystery thrown in. Reminiscent of the terrific Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks minus the wry humor, Hot Club burns it up yet again on this release.
This article appears in August 25 • 2000.