METZn Around by The Metz Family

25 Apr

Written by Richard Bourcier
font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

METZ’n Around is a simple celebration of a musical family and their friends. The Metz family is very, very musical indeed. Ed Metz Senior has pumped the piano for more "Dixieland" bands than you can shake a stick at. In recent years, the senior member of the family has been the leader/arranger of the Bob Crosby Bob Cats.

Ed Junior is a veteran of the Count Basie Orchestra and numerous recording groups for the Arbors label. Junior was the drummer with Uncle Yoke’s Black Dogs, in my humble opinion, the most exciting and entertaining trad band ever. Look for this fine rhythm man at your favorite jazz festival.

Tim Metz has been in the music industry since the ‘70s and has appeared at Carnegie Hall with pop vocalist, Connie Francis. Vocalist Joey Metz is married to Ed Sr and is Mom to Ed Jr., Tim and Mike who wrote the fine notes for this album.

The family is joined by John Allred and Terry Myers for the session and they are anything but strangers. John’s father, Bill Allred and Ed Senior played together for decades.

Material for the family band is drawn from American composers in their vintage years. How about Spencer and Clarence Williams, James P. Johnson, Johnny Mercer, George Gershwin and pianist Joe Sullivan. Sullivan’s famed Little Rock Getaway gets royal treatment by Ed Metz Sr.. Joey’s witty vocal does justice to the 1920s novelty number, How Could Red Riding Hood Have Been So Very Good.

This writer’s favorites include Old Folks featuring some great tenor sax by Terry Myers, I Thought About You showcasing John Allred’s trombone and Hey Mr.Fay, a tribute to the late Rick Fay.

The Metz gang have a ball on this album. They enjoy playing and it shows!

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: The Metz Family
CD Title: METZn Around
Genre: Traditional / New Orleans
Year Released: 2004
Record Label: Arbors Jazz
Tracks: Deed I Do; You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart; I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None O’ This Jelly Roll; Sunday Blues; Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown; Old Folks; Goody Goody; Someone To Watch Over Me; Everytime; Little Rock Getaway; Red Riding Hood; I Thought About You; See Here; Hey Mr. Fay.
Musicians: Ed Metz Sr. (piano); Ed Metz Jr. (drums); Joey Metz (vocals); Tim Metz (bass); John Allred (trombone); Terry Myers (tenor sax). The “Can’t Come In” Chorale (Ed Metz Sr., Ed Metz Jr., Tim Metz, Mike Metz, Terry Myers) on track 12.
Label Website: http://www.arborsrecords.com
Rating: Three Stars