Sidewalk Swingers is a Singapore-based combo style band that plays music influenced by the popular New Orleans scene, having a very distinctive sound! I found myself very intrigued by the style of music the band play and wanted to check out their latest EP release, RELIVE. It sounds funky and fresh, mixing together several different styles of music into one amazing package.

By Jane Howkins

Lai Lai is the first track, opening with a cool jazzy sound that harks back to the glory days of the swing movement. The piano provides a nice undertone to the song, alongside the bass. The percussion is rather busy, suiting the genre of music well. The real stand-out is the brass instrumentation, adding a funky vibe that will make you want to get up and start dancing straight away! The trumpets provide something akin to a vocal line on this instrumental number, drawing you in as the song progresses along.

Breathing starts out a little differently, with a slightly slower rhythm, which is enhanced further by the bass section. Everything sounds a little lower here, working well with the percussion, which is a little subtler. The piano is still there, working away in the background, although it sounds less prominent. Nevertheless, the song never loses its groove.

Jumpin’ From The Dot starts out with a cool bassline, throbbing away in the background of this piece. This track is also a little slower than the opener, but it’s got more of a positive vibe to it than Breathing. The piano has a wonderful flowing quality, aligning well with the brass, as the cymbals add an extra textural quality to proceedings. The trumpet takes pride of place once again, sounding absolutely effortless as it carries the main tune.

Sidewalk Swingers are bringing swing and jazz music back into the popular domain, combining the old with the new in a fantastically stylish way on RELIVE. Even if the genre isn’t normally your usual cup of tea, I highly recommend you check this out!

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