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Underneath a Brooklyn Moon by JC Hopkins Biggish Band featuring Queen Esther
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fave it Jazz Vocals | Swing/Big Band
10 tracks | 39 minutes
Released Aug 2005
on Tigerlily Records
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:07 Here Comes Love lyrics BUY MP3 03:07 Here Comes Love lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:07 Here Comes Love
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:17 One Never Knows lyrics BUY MP3 04:17 One Never Knows lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:17 One Never Knows
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:37 I've Got My Finger On A Star lyrics BUY MP3 03:37 I've Got My Finger On A Star lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:37 I've Got My Finger On A Star
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 00:20 Ice Cream Song lyrics BUY MP3 00:20 Ice Cream Song lyrics "GIFT MP3" 00:20 Ice Cream Song
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:54 Underneath A Brooklyn Moon lyrics BUY MP3 03:54 Underneath A Brooklyn Moon lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:54 Underneath A Brooklyn Moon
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 07:21 Small Town lyrics BUY MP3 07:21 Small Town lyrics "GIFT MP3" 07:21 Small Town
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:24 I Still Believe In Some Kind Of Love lyrics BUY MP3 03:24 I Still Believe In Some Kind Of Love lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:24 I Still Believe In Some Kind Of Love
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:18 Someday lyrics BUY MP3 05:18 Someday lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:18 Someday
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:39 Show Biz'ness lyrics BUY MP3 04:39 Show Biz'ness lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:39 Show Biz'ness
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:33 Settle Down lyrics BUY MP3 03:33 Settle Down lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:33 Settle Down
Original "Songbook", Big Band, Be-Bop, Americana Jazz
Editorial review
It isn't hard to understand why the neo-swing trend of the '90s (which favored a very ironic blend of jump blues and early rock & roll) ran out of gas and was pretty much dried up by the end of the decade. Although some quality bands came out of that trend (including the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), there were plenty of amateurs who couldn't play their instruments and seemed to think that irony and cuteness was enough to carry them. Besides, the trend generally neglected the Benny Goodman/Duke Ellington/Artie Shaw side of things -- there's something wrong with bands that run around talking about a swing revival but can't play anything by Lionel Hampton or Glenn Miller. But despite all those things, there is no reason why younger artists shouldn't explore swing if they're good at it -- and Underneath a Brooklyn Moon is far superior to most of the neo-swing that was recorded in the '90s. Perhaps it is mixing apples and oranges to compare pianist/producer J.C. Hopkins and his Biggish Band to those '90s acts and insist that Hopkins is better than most of them; stylistically, Hopkins is going for something different -- instead of mixing jump blues with early rock & roll, this 2005 release recalls the '40s in a way that is much closer to Count Basie and Duke Ellington (minus the heavy focus on instrumentals and with some early bebop influence as well). But Hopkins definitely has the irony thing down -- not only in terms of his '40s-like attire, but also in terms of his often clever lyrics (which are skillfully handled by Queen Esther -- a big-voiced singer with a very bluesy, gritty take on jazz). Hopkins, however, isn't dorky about it; he and Esther show a genuine affection for different sides of '40s culture (the film noir darkness as well as the quaint romanticism). Underneath a Brooklyn Moon doesn't contain any standards; Hopkins wrote everything himself, and he shows considerable promise on this fun yet professional-sounding effort. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
JC Hopkins is a triple threat: writer, performer and producer. He does all three on Underneath a Brooklyn Moon.
With original songs rooted in big band jazz, be-bop, and the classic American Songbook, Hopkins has drawn comparisons to Mose Allison and Van Dyke Parks for his clever turns of phrase and elegant arrangements.
JC Hopkins' Biggish Band creates that special alchemy of Americana jazz - something akin to Irving Berlin conducting a Moondog street symphony - that sounds simultaneously bold and classic, sophisticated and searching.
Brooklyn Moon features the vocals of Queen Esther, plus a deeply pedigreed group of supporting players that includes Patience Higgins (Savion Glover) and Claire Daly on saxophone, Warren Smith (Miles Davis, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin), on vibraphone, and Vincent Chancey (Sun Ra Arkestra) on French horn, among others.
NY Press:
"One of the highlights is 'One Never Knows,' co-written with Norah Jones; also pay attention to 'Show Biz'ness'.
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