Trumpeter
Doc Cheatham (87 at the time) gets top billing and is well-featured on six of this CD's 11 selections but the release from the Canadian label Sackville is more significant for helping to introduce Rosemary Galloway's Swing Sisters. This fine quintet (originally all women but now just three out of five) features the excellent trumpeter Sarah McElcheran and the local legend Jane Fair on tenor and clarinet. The repertoire mostly consists of swing obscurities and
Cheatham is delightful during his two vocals (sharing "Baby It's Cold Outside" with the bassist/leader). The performances without
Cheatham sound quite a bit more modern, leaning more toward early-'60s hard bop. This well-rounded set has some fine individual moments. ~ Scott Yanow