Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is not just a world class sounding venue, but are known for bringing in world class entertainment and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is no exception. As Scotty Morris, founder as well as vocalist, guitarist, banjo player and ring leader, said, Troy is their favorite place to play due to the venue and energy from the crowd. While it may be a bit of hyperbole, the nearly full venue and infectious enthusiasm, and cracker jack band (yes, a throwback compliment to a throwback swing band) all added up to a night of entertainment that flew by in a flash.
Formed in 1989, with Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren as original members, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has been bringing back the swing era with a vengeance. Channeling luminaries like Cab Calloway along the way. If there’s any doubt, opening the evening was Calloway’s “Minnie The Moocher” updated with some lyrics furthering the hoochie coocher with a heart as big as a whale’s story. “Mr. Pinstripe Suit” and the callout to the Hi Dee Ho man also hints at that influence from Calloway. While Morris’ vocals were solid throughout, their version of Frankie Newton and his Café Society Orchestra’s 1939 instrumental “Jitters” let the whole band shine as they took their turns at solos. In fact, all through the show, every individual took their turn in the spotlight. A funny moment came when performing a request for Blue Lu Barker’s “Don’t You Feel My Leg,” a risqué blues song sung from the point of view from the lady from back in 1938. The irony is there are no women in the band, so Morris took on the role, with the warning, “don’t try to imagine it.” Of course it was spot on. “King Of Swing” saw the horn section marching around the stage behind the guitar strumming Morris. While Glen “The Kid” Marhevka stepped to the front with a great trumpet solo. The kids in the audience were not left out as they pulled out a solid bossa nova tinged version of Disney’s “I Wanna Be Like You” from the Jungle Book. “Mambo Swing” saw Marhevka, Andy Rowley (bari sax), Mitchell Cooper (trumpet) and Joshua Levy (piano) take their turns at soloing as well as showing off the horn section and bassist Dirk Shumaker’s vocal abilities. “Zig Zaggity Woop Woop” saw the horn section move out from their music stands line up across the front of the stage and later leave the stage as Sodergren had his turn in the spotlight for a very tasteful drum solo.
One of the bands mainstay songs “You And Me And A Bottle Makes Three Tonight” saw Karl Hunter (Sax & Clarinet) and Alex Henderson (Trombone) as well as Mahrevka (trumpet) take their turn in the sun. Finishing off the night, another signature song, “So Long, Farewell, Bye Bye” saw Morris, Rowley, Marhevka and Shumaker each take turns with a verse.
Although they began the night with my favorite all time song “Minnie The Moocher,” (this is mainly because in high school, I saw Cab Calloway, my mother’s favorite, perform at the now defunct Colonie Coliseum and that performance has always stuck with me) there was not a down second. At one point, Morris announced to the audience, that the band would like to slow things down and perform a ballad and after a few moments, said, with a smile, “but we don’t know any.” There were only a few seats left way up in the back of the balcony and at the end of the evening, everyone was standing as the band left the stage, not once, but both when they left after the main performance and again after their two song encore. Every musician in the band is a true virtuoso in their respective instruments, and they appear to have a blast on stage. In fact, the horn section didn’t spend much time in their personal section of stage but move freely around, but at the same time, their movements were well-choreographed. If they weren’t involved, they either moved to the back or off the stage entirely so as not to take attention from the soloist. It’s extremely hard to describe, in just a few words, their entire stage show, but I highly recommend seeing them any chance you get.
Gallery:
