Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » W&E Swing: Moonshine

W&E Swing: Moonshine

By Wade Luquet
February 4, 2016
View read count

Through a chance meeting at a weekly jam session at Round Guys Brewery in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, a group of musicians became friends and began to gel as a group. The jam organizer

Mike Mahomet

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Mahomet, has a small recording studio blocks away and invited the talented group to record some tunes. The group known as W&E Swing is lead by singer/guitarist Wendy Bourne and guitarist

Ernie Pugliese

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Pugliese who were joined by many of the Wednesday night regulars on this delightful CD. Like its title suggests, the tune selections are all about the moon, ably arranged by Pugliese and beautifully sung by Bourne. Her strong clear voice is reminiscent of the great contemporary jazz singers including

Diana Krall

piano and vocals
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Krall and

Jane Monheit

vocals
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Jane Monheit. No doubt this CD was built around her voice backed by strong arrangements and musicians, and expertly produced and mixed.

Drummer

Alex Maio

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Maio and bassist

Matt Turowski

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Turowski keep the band moving perfectly in the pocket throughout the recording. Turowski's swinging bass licks are both lyrical and driven with his agility on the fret board and clarity most evident on "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" played at breakneck speed. A swinging version of "Fly Me to the Moon" is accented by

Ed Neiderhiser

trumpet
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Neiderhiser's muted trumpet and Pugliese' melodic guitar solo. A slow rendition of "Moonlight in Vermont" with pleasant phrasings by Bourne is made even more captivating by

Eric Loken

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Loken's vibraphone accents and solos. The tune choices remind the listener how many songs are written about the moon, and the beauty of the works and music reminds us why.

Moonshine is a lovely first album for W&E Swing. With talented musicians, a charming vocalist and music made by a group of friends who simply met at a jam session at a brew pub, it has a good back story along with a good sound. We can only hope for more from the band.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

How High The Moon; It's Only A Paper Moon; Moon River, It Must Have Been Moonglow; What A Little Moonlight Can Do; Moondance; Fly Me To The Moon; Shine On Harvest Moon; Moonlight In Vermont; Old Devil Moon.

Personnel

W&E Swing

Wendi Bourne, lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2,3,4,6,8); Ernie Pugliese, rhythm guitar (1,5,6,7,9,10), guitar solo (1,4,7,8,10), guitar intro (6,8,9);Matt Turowski, upright bass; Alex Maio, drums (except 8); Richard "Shepp" Sheppard, gypsy guitar (5), percussion (8), guitar (9,10); Bill Nixon, violin (3,4,5); Thomas Razler, tenor sax (1,6,10); Ed Neiderhiser, trumpet (2,7); Eric Loken, vibes (9,10); Girl's From Mars, Lauren Janson & Annie Patterson, back up vocals (4,8).

Album information

Title: Moonshine | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Boston Creative Jazz Scene 1970-...
< Previous

Hamid Drake Carte Blanche at Bimhuis...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.