Jukebox

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

I first became acquainted with Kitty, Daisy and Lewis at a K T Tunstall gig at the Roundhouse in London. They were providing support and I remember wandering in part way through their set and thinking how cool it was.

You see I am easily pleased by music I’m not expecting to hear, only if it’s good though, you understand. It was totally out of the ordinary. I mean how many of you would walk into a K T Tunstall gig and expect to hear swing music? Played by kids in very sharp suits and 50’s dress? Not many of I’ll wager.

The three-piece band of siblings formed in 2000 and are influenced heavily by R&B, swing, jump blues, country and Western, blues, Hawaiian and rock ‘n’ roll. They are all multi-instrumentalists playing guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, drums, trombone, xylophone and accordion between them. Kitty is 15, Lewis 18 and Daisy 20. Although their discography will claim that there was an album prior to this from what I can see it’s just a collection of tracks they like and so really this is their first real recording.

It’s ten tracks long and you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s from another time and another place. Maybe 1950s Southern USA. It oozes cool in a kitsch sort of way. It’s the mix of Blues and Hawaiian sounds that does it I think. I’ve never been able to take Hawaiian music terribly seriously, what little I’ve heard anyway. Some tracks on the album are more rousing than other parts. It reminds me of Sunday mornings listening to obscure music on what was then Jazz FM with my Dad. It sounds as though it should be played on a record player, complete with pops and scratches for true retro value.

There’s a mix of blues, jive, swing and Hawaiian with one track of Hillbilly thrown in, no points for guessing which one that is. Going Up The Country is a strong opener, mixing up swing, blues and jive. Oh how I wish I could jive listening to this track. The rhythms in KD&L’s music are wonderful and the vocals are strong, rich and just a touch growly. Being a fan of lyrics I think it’s important to mention that it’s the music and overall sound that really makes this album. They could be singing just about anything but it’s the smooth tones and the way they belt out the sounds that really makes it.

Buggin’ Blues is another jump blues track with aptly jumpy guitar rhythms and plenty of snare drum. They also do a fine cover of I Got My Mojo Working first recorded by Ann Cole but made popular by Muddy Waters in 1957. Mean Son Of A Gun provides some rag time jump jive and wail while Mohair Sam is a slower paced bluesy number. OOO-WEE might be one you’ve heard before. I think it way well have been released as a single. You’re eased back out into reality with one more Hawaiian track for the raod in the form of the instrumental Swinging Hawaii.

You could get bored with this after a few listens purely because it’s so different to most other things that you’ll hear these days. You’ll love it for novelty value on the first listen and then have to make up your mind whether you’re smitten, drag it out on a Sunday periodically or sneak it into someone else’s collection.

“ oozes cool in a kitsch sort of way ”

File under: Blues, Jazz, Swing, Hawaiian

Tracklist: Going Up The Country / Buggin’ Blues / Polly Put The Kettle On / Honolulu Rock A Roll A / I Got My Mojo Working / Mean Son Of A Gun / Hillbilly Music / Mohair Sam / Ooo Wee / Swinging Hawaii

Written by Vikki Roberts - October 2008
Read more: Albums, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Kitty Daisy & Lewis