Mora's Modern Rhythmists - Call Of The Freaks

Styles: Swing/Big Band
Label: Mr. Ace
Released: 2000
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 145,6 MB
Time: 63:35
Art: front

1. Call Of The Freaks - 3:22
2. Queer Notions - 3:05
3. Jazz Pie - 3:28
4. A Viper's Moan - 3:30
5. Rigamarole - 2:36
6. I'm Good For Nothing But Love - 3:31
7. Tar Paper Stomp - 3:32
8. Uptown Rhapsody - 2:39
9. Night Wind - 3:12
10. Serenade For A Wealthy Widow - 2:54
11. Get Rhythm In Your Feet - 2:20
12. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues - 4:49
13. Cuban Pete - 3:25
14. The Dipsey Doodle - 2:58
15. Honeysuckle Rose - 2:40
16. Annie's Cousin Fannie - 3:06
17. Hunkadola - 3:05
18. If Dreams Come True - 2:52
19. Daybreak Express - 2:50
20. It's Over Because We're Through - 3:31

Notes: MORA'S MODERN MUSIC represents the various vintage-style bands founded by pianist Dean Mora and based in Los Angeles, California. These groups perform American dance music from the years 1900 to 1950, using period arrangements and transcriptions from the original recordings. Each group is presented with a keen eye towards authenticity, both in terms of musical performance, as well as the appearance of its musicians.
The musical ensembles represented are:

Mora's Modern Rhythmists (1920s-1930s dance band)
Mora's Modern Swingtet (1930s-1940s small band)
Dean Mora And His Orchestra (1930s-1940s big band)
Mora's Ragtime Orchestra (Music from 1900-1920)

MORA'S MODERN RHYTHMISTS is the "flagship" of the MMM family, having been the first to be organized back in 1994, for the purpose of performing American popular dance music from the 1920s and early 1930s, using period arrangements and transcriptions from the original recordings.
Following a series of small concerts around the Los Angeles area, the Rhythmists were hired as the Monday-night house band at the Derby, a nightclub situated in one of the original Brown Derby Restaurants, in Hollywood, and which was considered by many to be the "ground-zero" of the Swing Revival of the 1990s. Soon, Mora's Modern Rhythmists began to garner a reputation as one of the best swing bands in Los Angeles, and their Monday night performances gained a cult following among dancers and band enthusiasts alike. They remained at the club for almost three years.

Call Of The Freaks

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Mora's Modern Rhythmists - My Favorite Band!

Styles: Swing/Big Bands
Label: Mr. Ace Records
Released: 1996
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 115,1 MB
Time: 50:16
Art: front

1. Hollywood (Introduction) - 1:19
2. My Favorite Band! - 2:58
3. Bandanna Babies - 2:26
4. Hot Mustard - 4:15
5. Speedy Boy - 2:14
6. Stockholm Stomp - 2:50
7. Soliloquy - A Musical Thought - 3:39
8. Rhapsody In Rhythm - 3:20
9. Egyptian Ella - 2:39
10. Mule Face Blues - 2:55
11. Black Coffee - 2:26
12. I'm Good For Nothing But Love - 3:27
13. Got The Jitters - 2:54
14. On Revival Day - 2:31
15. Night Wind - 3:37
16. Harlem Madness - 3:22
17. Steamboat Bill - 2:20
18. Hollywood (Conclusion) - 0:56

Personnel:
John Reynolds - guitar, banjo
Geoff Nudell - flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
Art Gibson - tuba
Corey Gemme - cornet
Jim Ziegler - trumpet, cornet
Larry Wright - drums, percussion
Mark Visher - clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
Terry Glenny - violin
Dean Mora - vocals, piano
Jerry Kuhn - trombone
Phil Krawzak - clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Notes: The debut recording by Mora's Modern Rhythmists features the 11-piece group (six horns, four rhythm, and violin) performing a variety of superior obscurities, mostly from the early '30s. This set of pre-swing includes such interesting numbers as "My Favorite Band," "Hot Mustard," "Speedy Boy," "Rhapsody in Rhythm," "Mule Face Blues," "Got the Jitters," and "Harlem Madness." Pianist-leader Dean Mora adapted the stock arrangements to his band's instrumentation, and his sidemen create fine solos in the style of the period. This is an unusual period to be exploring, yet Mora and his players fully understand what pre-swing big bands sound like. An enjoyable outing by an ensemble that stands apart from the retro-swing movement. ~ Scott Yanow

My Favorite Band!

Mora's Modern Rhythmists - Mr. Rhythmist Goes To Town

Styles: Swing, Big Bands
Label: Ace Records
Released: 1999
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 153,9 MB
Time: 67:15
Art: front

1. Georgia Jubilee - 2:42
2. Cavernism - 3:24
3. Joe Turner Blues - 2:23
4. Sweet Sue, Just You - 3:58
5. Blue Minor - 3:24
6. King Of Swing - 3:15
7. Mr. Ghost Goes To Town - 3:58
8. Without That Gal - 2:36
9. Chant Of The Weed - 3:46
10. Ain't Cha Got Music? - 2:51
11. The Mayor Of Alabam' - 3:31
12. Dixieland Shuffle - 3:24
13. Jungle Jazz - 2:52
14. Four Or Five Times - 3:10
15. Dancin' With A Debutante - 2:24
16. Hot Toddy - 2:22
17. Pastorale - 4:08
18. Here Come The British - 3:15
19. Big John's Special - 2:50
20. Smoke Rings - 3:29
21. Night Ride - 3:24

Notes: MORA'S MODERN RHYTHMISTS was formed in 1994 by Dean Mora, a Los Angeles-area pianist whose interest in the 1920s and 1930s was forged early on as a child (he saw "The Sting" when he was 11, and was instantly hooked) and has endeavored to bring the music of this period back to life, utilizing original published arrangements as well as transcriptions from recordings. Following a series of small concerts around the Los Angeles area, the band was booked at the world-famous Derby nightclub in 1997, and remained the Monday night house band for three years, prompting legions of dancers to rediscover some of the dances steps that were popular during this time frame, such as the Shag, the Balboa, and the Charleston.

Since then, the band has played at such venues as The Wiltern Theatre, The Hollywood Palladium, The Avalon Casino Ballroom (Catalina Island), the legendary Blossom Room of The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the historic Biltmore Hotel (downtown Los Angeles) and Argyle Hotel (Hollywood), the Wilshire Ebell Club, The Hollywood Athletic Club, and The Orpheum Theatre. Special events include The Los Angeles Consevancy's Last Remaining Seats series, the Art Deco Society's 1929 Wall St. Crash Bash and Speakeasy Soiree, A&E Network's gala premiere of "The Great Gatsby", as well as numerous corporate and private functions. In the summer of 2001, Mora's Modern Rhythmists had the honor of performing at Lincoln Center in New York City as part of their "Midsummer Night Swing" dance series.

The band has also participated in music festivals, such as the Sweet and Hot Jazz Festival, the SoCal Jazzfest, the San Clemente Dixieland Festival, and the Big Bear Jazz Festival. In the concert arena, Mora's Modern Rhythmists presented an all-Duke Ellington program at the Balcony Theatre in Pasadena as part of the Pasadena Jazz Institute's "Tribute To The Masters" concert series, as well as being the starring ensemble in "Chuck Cecil Presents...", which was held at the Performing Arts Center of Cal State, Northridge, and was very favorably reviewed by esteemed Los Angeles Times jazz critic Don Heckman.

Mora's Modern Rhythmists have released 4 CDs to date, including My Favorite Band, Mr. Rhythmist Goes To Town, Call of the Freaks, and their most recent endevor, Goblin Market, a tribute to Swing Era-arranger and bandleader Spud Murphy, (known chiefly for his arranging work with Benny Goodman).

Mr. Rhythmist Goes To Town

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