With live recordings, “Road Toads” surpasses expectations

By Jack Bullion

Skiff Staff

I have to say, right off, that “Road Toads” by the TCU Jazz Ensemble had a lot to live up to in my mind — and in my stereo. I had to remove Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain” to make room for it in my compact disc changer. That’s probably just what they need to hear, right? But to paraphrase the immortal words of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, I keed, I keed.

“Road Toads” never missed a beat, instantly and effortlessly finding a welcome groove. The disc mixes studio sessions, a performance at Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium and two live recordings in Budapest, Hungary and Montreux, Switzerland (the opening introductions are performed in French, which is a nice touch).

“Road Toads” is fun and also frighteningly accomplished. It’s no wonder the ensemble gets invited out of the cozy confines of Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium every once in awhile; They have some major chops and don’t hesitate to show them off. Any jazz recording that not only opens with a performance of Duke Ellington’s “Take the A-Train,” but a terrific performance of it at that, can’t be easily dismissed. The crowd at the Montreux Jazz Festival even sees fit to give the outfit a rousing ovation for its efforts.

The next 15 numbers follow the same swing territory of the opening track. Everything from the familiar, zippy classics like “In the Mood,”

“Decoupage” and “Jump, Jive and Wail” to contemplative, mood-setting numbers like “Polka Dots and Moon Beams” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” get some very pristine treatment courtesy of our jazz band.

The only complaint I have is that the studio recordings lack the spontaneity of the live spots, especially the ones recorded in a raucous and very appreciative Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium. But hey, everything’s better live anyway, right?

I don’t pretend to know all that much about jazz, but I’m willing to bet that neither do most of the folks that cram the Student Center Lounge to see this bunch. So for anyone who’s ever been late to class because they were taking in one of the TCU Jazz Ensemble’s all-too-infrequent lunchtime performances, I entreat to you to lay your mitts on a copy of “Road Toads.”

And show up to class on time for once.

Jack Bullion is a junior English major from Columbia, Mo.
He can be reached at (j.w.bullion@student.tcu.edu).