Featuring ex-Mighty Blue Kings bassist
Jimmy Sutton,
the Four Charms' debut album,
Flatland Boogie, is loaded with authentic-sounding jump blues and swing recorded the old-fashioned way -- live. Taking inspiration from such rockin' acts of the past as
Jimmy Preston,
Tiny Grimes, and others,
the Four Charms deliver a stripped-down sound that should appeal to fans of postwar electric blues. Also featuring lead guitarist
Joel Paterson, baritone saxophonist
Jonathan Doyle, and drummer Jim Barclay, the foursome reigned as the house band at the famed Chicago haunt the Green Mill during the late '90s. Unfortunately, by the time the band got around to recording an album, the retro-swing revival had been revived, died, and been buried. Consequently,
Flatland Boogie never received the attention it deserved. ~ Matt Collar