St. Louis Jazz

Growling trumpets, shuffling feet, flappers, and smoky places. Songs with a naughty edge. The Arcadia Dance Orchestra directed by T. J. Muller celebrates St. Louis's years as a "hot town" in the 1920s when jazz reigned and Prohibition whiskey flowed throughout long, sultry nights along the levee. This is "hot" music played with all the spice and heart it deserves, from the sensuous swing of "Echo in the Dark" to the risque "Duck Yas Yas Yas" to the ghostly wails of "Starvation Blues." For added authenticity, the final two selections were acoustically recorded on a 1920s-era 78 rpm lathe. Since 2017, the Arcadia Dance Orchestra has spread musical joy to growing legions of knowing St. Louisans; this well-paced debut album brings that excitement to listeners worldwide. CD includes a 20-page illustrated booklet with comprehensive notes by T. J. Muller. Special guests include Andy Schumm, Colin Hancock, Miss Jubilee (Valerie Kirchhoff), Mike Davis, Josh Duffee, and Matt Tolentino. 15 selections, 44 minutes.