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The bass drum on the album cover says this band is drummer Max Weinberg's 7. And Weinberg (and his septet) gets the additional big-time network television credit as the house band for Conan O'Brien's
Late Night show. The 18 jump, jive, and wail tunes on this debut prove, though, that guitarist, vocalist, and arranger Jimmy Vivino is a central force in guiding the band. An impressive jump-blues and boogie swing singer, he gives great performances on "Chi" and Jackie Wilson's classic "Baby, Work Out." He also gives his six-strings a workout on the latter track and on "Okie Dokie Stomp." Dr. John adds his distinctive vocal work on "Caught 'Em in the Act," pianist Scott Healy smokes "Nervous Boogie," and the tempo throughout is scorching. From the pulse-quickening opener, "Jumpted," to "The Last Minute," an old slow Jimmy McGriff groove that closes the album, this music is perfect as neo-swing and also as a genre blur that mixes blues, Louis Prima-styled boogie, and straight-up, chugging swing. A few of the tunes may be recognizable from the band's cutaways to commercials on "Late Night," including "Jam Up" and "Honey Dripper," but besides that, there's no hint of the television Max Weinberg. He's only heard here, not seen.
--Mark Ruffin
Album Description
The Max Weinberg 7
Every weeknight for seven years, 5 million viewers have rocked and bopped to the sounds of the Max Weinberg 7 the best band in late night TV (Tom Shales, The Washington Post) on NBCs popular late-night offering, Late Night With Conan OBrien. Now, after a record breaking worldwide tour with the reformed Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, the highly respected drummer and his late-night co-horts, The Max Weinberg 7, make their album debut.
The Max Weinberg 7 (M&K Sound) release is a tour de force blend of rock, boogie, jump blues, and high energy swing with 17 vocal and instrumental tunes culled from the bands songbook that audiences have enjoyed for years on the late-night hit show including Rock This Joint, Lollipop, Nervous Boogie, and Jumpted; plus a MW7 original, Catch em In The Act, featuring the tasty piano & vocals of the legendary Dr. John.
Called the rhythmic backbone of Bruce Springsteens E Street Band by Robert Palmer of The New York Times, Max has been heard on such landmark albums as Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, and Tunnel of Love, as well as 2 of the top-selling albums of all time: Born in the U.S.A. and Meatloafs Bat Out of Hell
The Max Weinberg 7 is produced by Max Weinberg and arranged by Jimmy Vivino. Executive Producers are Ken Kreisel, Eric Gardner, and Stephen Powers.