Funny Man CD

Vocalist Debra 'The Duchess' Noelle may be familiar to some readers from her guest appearances with Kit Packham's outfit One Jump Ahead but here she steps into the limelight in her own right. Although the publicity blurb states that this set is aimed squarely at the swing-dance fraternity, those of us less nimble on our feet can find plenty to enjoy too, as this is an unashamedly retro jump and jive CD.

Everything clocks in well under the four minute mark and the duchess covers many bases with her remit - from Muddy Waters, Etta James and Sister Rosetta Tharpe to the Andrews Sisters and Ella Fitzgerald, with several originals thrown in for good measure and even a nod to the Rocking Highlanders - but it is an indicator of just how talented this bunch are that the programme flows (or swings, rather) smoothly. The Duchess has an attractive voice, with the catch in it so beloved of certain vocalists from the forties contributing a girlish charm to counterbalance the obvious strength - and do I detect a hint of Eartha Kitt in the singing on the title track?

The Dukes are in fact Packham's band, who deserve to be far more widely known than they actually are - the closest thing the UK has to the Tympany Five in sound and approach, though such a statement is to do them something of a disservice, implying that they are mere copyists, whereas they seem to use the jump/jive form for inspiration rather than for note for note recreation. Full marks to the rhythm section of Kenrick Rowe and Chris Rodel for fine drum and bass work respectively, to baritone saxophonist Tracey Mendham for some excellent playing and to Kit himself for his tenor sax contributions and a couple of amusing duet vocals. In fact, the only sour note of the set comes from the guest, sometime avant-garde guitarist Billy Jenkins who lays it on just a little too heavy on his solo on the closing track - it does jar a little with the remainder of the style and musicianship throughout the album (though not enough to really spoil anyone's enjoyment).

But this is the Duchess's album and as I said at the beginning, a very fine debut it is too. Or, to put it another way, swinging Civil list chanteuse sings sweet, sexy, sassy and sultry on simply super CD.

(copyright 2003, reproduced from Blues & Rhythm)

Duchess and Her Dukes is a kind of spin-off from Kit Packham's One Jump Ahead, this time featuring Kit as saxophonist, occasional songwriter, and secondary vocalist. Kit's regular band - pianist Perry White, bassist Chris Rodel, drummer Kenrick Rowe, baritone saxophonist Tracey Mendham, guitarists Nigel Price and Billy Jenkins (the latter described as 'special guest' on this occasion) - are all present and correct too, and on form every bit as fine and jazzy as we've come to expect from their previous recordings.

What makes Duchess and Her Dukes an altogether different prospect from One Jump is the foregrounding of singer Debra Noelle, who has done bit parts with the band in the past, but who, it now appears, was always en route to her own project. Deciding that the best possible support was already being provided by Packham's gang, Noelle simply turned OJA on its head, invented new personas for themselves, and emerged for the inaugural photo session wearing an intention-stating ensemble consisting of a tiara and a joke-shop Groucho Marx disguise.

The blend of the classy and the comic is a pretty good signifier for their debut disc, and as this mixture has always worked well on previous Packham-related projects, existing fans of the earlier band will need little further recommendation to track this CD down too. Debra's theatrical background is perhaps a little apparent on occasion (she met Packham and White while all three were touring one of those rock' n roll' musicals), but she's very good at the kind of stuff that sometimes gets lost in the cracks between jazz, showbiz and early rock. Jump, jive and swing fans should have few reservations then, and can purchase this with confidence.

Rating: 8/10 - Paul Lewis (copyright 2003, reproduced from Blues In Britain)