on a day to day basis. Features tracks from Son House, Garfield Akers, Blind Joe Reynolds, Mississippi Matilda, Richard Trice, Cedar Creek Sheik, Roosevelt Antrim, Blind Boy Fuller and more. Saga. 2006.  (less)

the traditional fiddle tune "Cotton-Eyed Joe," which has since become a must-play for any band on the Texas dance hall circuit, and turned in credible Bing Crosby-derived vocals on pop standards. And his bands, which included his brother Bash on steel and often the great hot fiddler J.R. Chatwell, swung with the best of 'em. --John Morthland  (less)

ballrooms of the Cotton Belt and the Midwest.' Indeed Bernstein and company embrace vintage sounds and tweak them through their very own post-modern filter. Classics like 'Viper Song' and 'Its Tight Jim' are reinvented to speak in the 21st century, without sacrificing any big band swing authenticity. More contemporary fair like The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love' are treated as if they straight from Count Basie's repertoire. With a line-up featuring Steven Bernstein, Peter Apfelbaum, Clark Gayton, Eric Lawrence, Doug Wieselman, Charles Burnham, Matt Munisteri, Doug Wamble, Ben Allison and Ben Perowsky, expect WE ARE MTO to be among this year's best jazz records.  (less)