That the Netherlands accommodate great bands isn’t a secret. Proof of this is, once again, jump-jazz and –blues band Jzzzzzp from Haarlem. A couple of years ago they brought out their first CD (“Vledder Bop”, on Rockhouse Records), which was welcomed rather well by press critics. Now there’s the follow-up “Swinging’ All Day”. If you like the style of Louis Jordan, Mose Allison, Slim & Slam, Big Jay McNealy, Louis Prima and others, then you’ll love Jzzzzzp. Singer PP Fischer, Dre Voorvrienden (contra bass), Thomas Streutgers (tenor sax), Arnold Smits (guitar) and Daniel Casey (drums) prove to have class. The whole CD is packed with oldfashioned swing, jump & jive and mambo and sounds very real. More like enjoyment from beginning to end! For instance, the often covered ‘Rag Mop’, a song most known of The Ames Brothers ’50. Jzzzzzp manages to bring this in a very authentic way. Also Louis Jordan’s ‘Is You Is’ (or is you ain’t my baby), first brought out in ’44 and ‘It Ain’t The Meat (it’s the motion) by The Swallows ’51, are brought with much dedication and knowledge. The most brilliant number I find ‘Dark Eyes’, (a Russian folksong from the 19th century, written by Jevgeni Grebjonka), this is absolutely great. Jzzzzzp plays very contagious, have an ear for detail and manages to blow life into these old songs. It’s a shame there isn’t any information included about the songs. For the layman there’s no indication which numbers belong to who. And is there any own work?

Translation by: Marleen Crook-Geebelen