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What the critics are saying about Ghost Train, the Hot Club's new CD: Bass Player: "With more than half of Ghost Train written by guitarist Whit Smith or violinist Elana Fremerman, the Hot Club is moving beyond the reinterpretation of western swing and gypsy jazz standards of its first three records as the band takes the reins and develops its voice--while still sounding like a pre-WWII group. On his first record with the band, Erwin provides plenty of driving, percussive support for the drummerless trio and gets generous solo space, where he uses walking and single-, double-, and tripple-slaps to keep the beat pounding with his warm, gut-string tone." (September '02) The Onion: "Hot Club of Cowtown has only been around since 1996, but its upcoming album Ghost Train sounds as though the Austin trio spent the last 40 years bringing its old-fashioned mixture of Western swing and hot jazz to tiny rural clubs. Without a trace of smirky retro irony, the album is a refreshingly sweet-natured, accomplished, old-school treat." (September 5, 2002) Chicago Tribune: "...this Austin-based western swing/jazz trio -- violin, guitar and upright bass -- will bring even the tamest audience to its feet. Plus, instrument aficionados will drool over the 1925 Gibson acoustic, 1938 Gibson amp and all the other classic gear that helps to keep Cowtown hot and hoppin'." (September 6, 2002) |