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Album: The Oklahoma Swing Project This new CD produced by Dave Alexander, a multi-talented Western Swing legend is conceptually and musically a work of art. Pat Jacobs, a former Hurshul Clothier and the Oklahoma Travelers bass player gave to Dave the masters of an awesome 1982 Clothier band recording session, which included Dave's dad, the late Ashley Alexander playing trumpet and trombone. Dave added and combined his trumpet and some of today's top musicians and vocalists in Western Swing to the Clothier band recordings and this musical gem was created. It consists of 12 tunes and four short intros by Dave, Pat, Red Steagall and Leon Rausch. Others on this CD create a who's who of western swing musicians. From 1982 the steel guitar of Gene Crownover and the fiddles of Curly Lewis, Jack Bailey and Frankie McWhorter are augmented by Randy Elmore's fiddle from today. Randy also plays mandolin and guitar. Also from 1982 Tiny Duncan plays piano, Jimmy Benjamin, the drums, Pat Jacobs, bass, the great Benny Garcia, guitar and Glen Rhees- saxophone. Also heard on the album are Jimmy Guercio playing rhythm guitar and vocalists that include Hurshul from 1982 and from today, Barry Corbin, Dave Alexander, Ginny Mac, Jimmy Burson, Leon Rausch and Red Steagall. Barry, Dave, Leon and Red open the album on vocal on what is called Oklahoma Waltz which is actually Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan's Good Ole Oklahoma. Also from Bob Wills, Leon and Dave do the vocal on San Antonio Rose, Dave is heard on Faded Love, Red sings Time Changes Everything and Leon does Deep Water. Other items include a fantastic instrumental Golden Slippers, Hurshul's original vocal on Sweet Memories and a version of Tommy Dorsey and Jack Leonard's 1930s big band hit on Irving Berlin's Marie. Hurshul is also in the vocal spotlight from 1982 on his I Need Your Love and Dave is joined by Ginny Mac for a duet on Johnnie Lee Wills and Henry Boatman's Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone. Two more wonderful instrumentals are On the Trail and Reno Street Blues. This album can be obtained from Pat Jacobs, 2825 Brookhollow Dr., Burleson, TX. 76028. 817-919-7358. The cost of the CD is $15 plus $3 shipping domestic, $5 international. Mike Gross, WVOF-FM, Fairfield, CT |