Pierre Omer’s Swing Revue Releases New LP on Voodoo Rhythm Records
James G. Carlson
Posted On July 22, 2016
Pierre Omer’s solo project, Pierre Omer’s Swing Revue, has dropped a new LP titled Swing Cremona. Released on independent Swiss label Voodoo Rhythm Records, Swing Cremona, is comprised of twelve tracks of cool, old-timey jazz and lively gypsy swing, with added bits of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and folk. These compositions certainly combine elements from present day and bygone eras, and borrow from select styles of European and American music; and while such an endeavor might suggest a clashing of sounds, that definitely isn’t the case here.
Pierre Omer, founding member of the death-blues funeral string orchestra The Dead Brothers (guitars and accordion), plays guitar, organ, and sings in his solo work. To help him realize the material for Swing Cremona, Pierre Omer enlisted the help talented musicians Christoph Gantert (trumpet and vocals), Jean-Philippe Geiser (double bass and vocals), and Julien Israelian (percussion and backing vocals). Seven out of the twelve tracks on Swing Cremona are carefully selected covers of Irving Berlin’s “Russian Lullaby,” Louis Armstrong’s “Old Man Mose” and “Coconut Island,” a version of the traditional “Miserlou,” Duke Ellington’s “Lotus Blossom,” Charlie Shavers’ “Undecided,” and She Rocola’s lyrics for “International Man of Mystery.” There are two songs by other artists: “Baby Blue” by band mate Christoph Gantert, and “I Lost My Smile” by Meret Matter, who provided some vocal work on the record. But some of the standout tracks on the record are songs that Omer wrote himself, such as “Show Me Some Love,” “Swing Cremona,” and “Sophie.”
In some ways the music of Pierre Omer’s Swing Revue would fit in well beside such other acts as VulgarGrad, Mojo Juju & the Snake Oil Merchants, The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Devotchka, Django Rheinhardt, The Pussywarmers, The Dead Man Street Orchestra, and the like.
Swing Cremona by Pierre Omer’s Swing Revue is available in LP and CD formats from Voodoo Rhythm Records.
The following video is a live version of “Old Man Mose” by Pierre Omer’s Swing Revue at venue in Switzerland.
