The swing revival almost buried Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
About four years ago, when the cult movie classic "Swingers" kicked off a frenzy for all things swing, the Ventura-based jump-jive band had already produced two homemade albums.Nevertheless, when the swing backlash inevitably began, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was accused of bandwagon jumping, even though the seven-piece outfit had been honing its craft since 1989.
"We knew the backlash was coming," recalls BBVD founder Scotty Morris. "Swing as a genre was getting bashed badly. We knew no matter what we did -- whether our new album was going to be great or just typical -- it would get pulverized. Only our true fans would stick with us."
Actually, singer-songwriter Morris and company did a credible job of keeping the flame burning while moving the music forward on "This Beautiful Life" (Coolsville/Interscope), the follow-up to BBVD's million-selling self-titled Grammy-nominated debut.
On the new disc, BBVD adds Latin rhythms ("I Wanna Be Like You)," a lush ballad ("Sleep Tight") and even a bluesy reading of the rarity "Ol' MacDonald," as popularized by Frank Sinatra.
"The buzz is building again," Morris said. "But we never felt totally part of the whole new swing thing anyway. It was a little hard to swallow. I mean, you never imagine yourself being thrown into a position where your first (major label) record attracts so much attention. Looking back, the entire experience was bittersweet. We'd been on the road six years, and our big breakthrough was actually our third album.
BBVD appears Dec. 20 at the House of Blues in West Hollywood and on New Year's Eve at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium's Fantasia 2000 event with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chicago.
The foundation for the band that was to become BBVD was built by Morris 10 years ago. Soon after discovering that he and drummer Kurt Sodergren shared similar musical tastes, both a friendship and a band were formed. The two then recruited charismatic string bassist Dirk Shumaker and baritone saxophonist Andy Rowley and immediately began gigging along the coast.
Over time, the band evolved into the current seven-piece lineup, which also features Glen "The Kid" Marhevka on trumpet, Karl Hunter on tenor saxophone and Joshua Levy on piano.
The band continued its relentless tour schedule, gradually building what was to become a fiercely loyal fan base for its swinging Cab Calloway/Louis Jordan sound. They launched a weekly residency in Hollywood at the Derby, which was immortalized in Doug Liman's hip "Swingers."
The low-budget art-house favorite earned a huge buzz, catapulting BBVD to national attention. The band appeared on the popular "Swingers" soundtrack, which featured tunes from Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin along with three BBVD cuts.
After completing their self-titled major label debut for Coolsville, BBVD hit the road, eventually seeing that high-spirited album take up residency in the Billboard chart for more than a year.
The band was the first group ever to play both the Orange Bowl and Super Bowl half-time telecasts after the release of just one major label record.
"What bugs me is, now that we've finally reached a night-after-night consistency, the press decides to be cruel," Morris said. "And when it's time for the music awards, I wonder if they're going to give the Grammy to Britney Spears' choreographer or makeup person."
On the new "Beautiful Life" album, BBVD recorded "I Wanna Be Like You" from the 1966 classic, "The Jungle Book."
Morris says the tune has been part of the band's live show for years.
"We originally thought it would make a cool B-side, but it came out so well, it made its way onto the record front and center," he said. "It just makes you smile every time you hear it."
Another new tune, "Some Things," is a nod to the cool jazz sound of Gerry Mulligan and Dexter Gordon in the '50s and '60s.
"I had a very specific idea about this song," Morris says. "I imagined Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers on one bandstand, the Count Basie Orchestra on the other and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in between. I'm very fond of this track."
And the swinging Sinatra number closes the album.
"We were on the road when we lost Frank, and we were all very shaken," Morris said. "We felt this tribute would be our small gesture of thanks for the lifetime of inspiration he provided us."
Who: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Blue Hawaiians.
Where: House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.
When: 9 p.m. Dec. 20.
Tickets: $26.
Information: (323) 848-5100.