Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra - Holiday Romance (1999)

The Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra hasn't existed for a while, but I'm pleased to see you can still order it from Amazon (even if it takes a few weeks to get to you). This may be a belated review, but I have to tell everybody what a phenomenal jazz/swing band this was, and what an incredible album they produced with this gem. Of all the retro-swing albums to appear in the late 1990s, "Holiday Romance" is the absolute tops...no fooling, no exaggerating, EVERY TRACK ON THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME. I can barely count on one hand the number of albums about which I can say that. If you love swing, if you love the big band era, if you love unique vocals, buy this album this instant.
The ten-piece "orchestra" does sound like a big band, and they play with energy but also as a tight unit. The musicianship is superb, and the band can play sweet, slow swing, as in the beautiful "Goodnight, My Love" and "Bessie Smith," and screaming, rock-based jump, as in the furious "Hard Eight" and the deliriously-paced "Rootbeer & Licorice." Also hard-swinging (but not as insane) are "Holiday Romance" and "Home to Mama." They've also mastered smooth, sophisticated jazz-swing, such as "Holiday on the Cote d'Azure," "Canadian September," and "Postcards from Paris." It's songs like these that really show off lead singer Johnny Favourite's unique voice: I really don't know anyone he compares to. He's just great, that's all there is to it: stylish, smooth, and swingy.
The two best tracks are "Motorcycle," a hard-pounding mid-tempo bluesy piece that drives dancers crazy whenever I play it as a D.J., and "Black Dog." Yes, THAT "Black Dog," the legendary Led Zeppelin song. Against all expectations, it turns into one of the greatest retro-swing numbers ever produced. Of all the pieces to come out of the neo-swing movement, this is my pick as personal favorite. (I used it as my D.J. theme song for years, and still do, and people are always asking me about it and where they can find it -- it blows their minds!)
I hope by now you've clicked the "purchase" button. This is just as superb as modern swing gets, so grab it before it's all gone. You won't regret it.