An improvement on their previous CD
Tea For Eight,
the Temperance Seven continue their odd mixture of dated crooner vocals, corn, British vaudeville and 1920s-style jazz. The personnel are the same as on their first Upbeat set: cornetist John Tucker, trombonist Robert Mickleburgh, Wee Will McHastie on clarinet, alto and penny whistle, Malcolm Willoughby on baritone and alto, pianist Chris Buckley, banjoist Mike Deighan, leader/arranger Chris Buckley on sousaphone, and drummer Graham Collicott, plus Alexander Galloway as the most prominent vocalist. Celebrating their 33rd year in business (starting with the original
Temperance Seven), the band has better material this time around, with the turkeys (such as "Me and Jane in a Plane") being in the minority. Highlights include "Home in Pasadena," Luis Russell's "Saratoga Shout," "Deep Henderson," "Royal Garden Blues" and "You're Driving Me Crazy." ~ Scott Yanow