Recorded in June 1960,
Swingin' on the Town was a bit of a retro affair at the time, since swing was no longer popular dance music, nor the cutting edge of jazz. Still,
Eldridge was one of the best swing trumpeters of any era, and his music continued to deepen over the years; there was no reason for him not to play swing standards if he could still make them sound fresh. Throughout
Swingin' on the Town, he does make it sound fresh. It helps that he's supported by bassist
Benny Moten, pianist
Ronnie Ball and drummer
Eddie Locke, who keep things lively, but
Eldridge is the focus here, and his performances are supple, swinging and charming. He doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, but he delivers the expected with grace. Not a major album in his catalog, but certainly an enjoyable one.