Hawaiian Swing

Performer: Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack
Engineer: Leslie Ann Jones
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack includes: Matt Catingub (vocals, saxophone, piano); Linda Harmon (vocals); Chris Pearson, Chad Hollingsworth (alto saxophone); David Wells (tenor saxophone); Dan Parenti (bass); Steve Moretti (drums). Producers: Allen J. Sviridoff, Matt Catingub, Leslie Ann Jones. Recorded at Skywalker Sound, Marin County, California from March 3-7, 1999. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. Personnel: Matt Catingub (vocals, alto saxophone, piano); Linda Harmon (vocals); Chad Hollingsworth (alto saxophone); Dave Wells (tenor saxophone); Jennifer Lovejoy (baritone saxophone); Jason Ravina, Dave Scott, Mike Olmos (trumpet); David Blacker, Doug Beavers (trombone); Steve Moretti (drums). Recording information: Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, CA (03/03/1999-03/03/1999). Illustrator: Shag. Arranger: Matt Catingub. "You gotta have a gimmick," said a wise old stage mother -- and Matt Catingub (aka Big Kahuna and youngest son of the late singer Mavis Rivers) has chosen his home-state Hawaii as the calling card for yet another new swing band. If you close your eyes, though, Hawaii is hardly in evidence on this rather ordinary recording where the jackhammer new swing/rockabilly beat is juxtaposed with more or less traditional big-band and combo numbers. Occasionally, a Hawaii-related tune like "Pearly Shells," "Blue Hawaii," or the concluding "Hawaiian War Chant" (which Tommy Dorsey beat the Kahuna to by over a half century) pass your way, but the arrangements are strictly mainland style, and most of the remainder of the songs date well before any of the band members were born (the oldest is trumpeter Dave Scott, 35). Catingub delivers the same brand of snazzy, high-energy vocals that you hear all the time in new swing circles, and he plays competent if not particularly individual alto sax. If anything, the factor that separates this band -- if "separates" is the right word -- from many of its competitors is its reversion to older swing era voicings in many of its instrumentals. In other words, let the good times roll, take 127. ~ Richard S. Ginell

JazzTimes (8/00, p.126) - "...The soundtrack to a hipster's big-city clambake....Pour another mai-tai, tug that god-awful Hawaiian shirt out of the bottom drawer and have a few laughs at Da Big Kahuna's expense."

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