Wolf Tracks

Whoever said western swing is dead was wrong. Tom "Wolf" Morrell and his band have taken it upon themselves not only to keep it alive, but to bring it up to date and chronicle its ongoing vibrancy, just as they did on the ten-volume series How the West Was Swung, from which the 12 tracks on this compilation were selected. For all but the most die-hard fans of the genre, this album will probably do just fine; there aren't any vocal tunes, unfortunately (Tommy Duncan's singing was always about half of what made those old Bob Wills albums so great), but the instrumentals collected here are all perfectly serviceable. The group delivers a great twin-fiddle arrangement of "River Road Two Step" and equally fine versions of "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Some Like It Hot," yet Morrell's own "Pterodactyl Ptales" is a particular highlight. The only complaint one might have is with the rather slick-sounding production and a sameness of mood that encourages your attention to wander, but the album's end might take you by surprise. Still, this is a great disc and a welcome reassurance that Texas country-jazz is still alive and well.