| BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS: Remember a couple of years back when the neo-swing phenomenon was in, um, full swing? The stuff was completely inescapable for a little while there (lest we forget the khaki-clad twentysomethings lindy-hopping to "Jump Jive and Wail" on Gap ads). But before you could say "sharkskin suit," the modern swing renaissance pretty much dropped off the radar screen. Or did it?
Much like the ska movement that preceded it, it seems swing merely went back underground--where it originated--and the die-hards kept the torch burning. Which brings us to pianist Brenden Kearney, bassist Steve Grams and drummer Kyle Bronsdon, collectively known as local swing jazz trio Kearney, Grams and Bronsdon. Veterans of Tucson swingsters Kings of Pleasure, the threesome left that unit a year ago to form their trio, which recently issued its self-released debut CD, Nine Waters, No Tip. It's a somewhat bare-bones but winning combination of originals and canonized classics like Louis Jordan's "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't" and Duke Ellington's "I've Got To Be A Rug Cutter." In a somewhat refreshing bucking of trends, the KGB trio is celebrating its mere paper anniversary (read: one year) this week with a performance on Thursday, August 3, at Boondocks, 3306 N. First Ave. The evening begins with a potluck dinner at 7:30 p.m., and $4 will get you through the door. Call 690-0991 with questions. --Stephen Seigel |