The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Vavoom! (2000)
Below is one of the first five CD reviews to ever appear on Bloggerhythms. It was posted almost twenty years ago, and it's being revived now because of the sad news Brian Setzer wrote on his Facebook page on February 13, 2025."Hi everybody, I just wanted to check in with you all. Towards the end of the last Stray Cats tour I noticed that my hands were cramping up. I’ve since discovered that I have an auto-immune disease. I cannot play guitar. There is no pain, but it feels like I am wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play. I have seen some progress in that I can hold a pen and tie my shoes. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I was at a point where I couldn’t even do that. Luckily, I have the best hospital in the world down the block from me. It’s called the Mayo Clinic. I know I will beat this, it will just take some time. I love you all, Brian."
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On Vavoom!, Brian Setzer's fourth orchestra release, the former leader
of The Stray Cats really takes you back in time - to pre-American involvement in
World War Two - covering Glenn Miller's "Pennsylvania 6-5000" and "In The Mood,"
both featuring his trademark large horn band and furious, rockabilly guitar.
The guitarist and bandleader completely reinvented these classics. He modernized "Pennsylvania"
by adding electronic effects and the original lyrics to a song that was a comparatively tame instrumental hit for Miller, and by doing so he almost turned it into an entirely new work. The arrangement catches fire immediately, opening the proceedings with
the best thirty second introduction to an album I've heard in years. Setzer
keeps the flames burning in a way that would have sent Miller running for
cover. The same can be said for "In The Mood."
Duke Ellington's "Caravan" is also given a new rock treatment.
The only misfire on the entire set is "Mack The Knife." While there really
isn't anything wrong with Setzer's version it is way too close to Bobby
Darin's famous, 1959 hit single for him to have bothered.
The leader's vocals, as usual, complement his greaser big band perfectly. He
really could have been a lounge singer if he wanted to pursue that road.
Vavoom! is another one of Setzer's fun records.
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