David Bromberg & Vassar Claments - Hillbilly Jazz 1975

"Hillbilly Jazz" mostly features the Bob Wills/Texas swing side of Vassar's playing, ably assisted by a strong backup group featuring David Bromberg on acoustic and slide guitars and some great pedal steel work by Doug Jerrigan. In addition to covering the Wills hits "San Antonio Rose" and "Take Me Back to Tulsa", there's a great version of Benny Goodman's "Breakfast Feud" (Jerrigan particularly shines on this one), a bluesy "Sittin' on Top of the World", and closes with a gorgeous instrumental version of Bromberg's "Last Song for Shelby Jean." What really makes this collection work is while there's some wonderful picking going on, nothing ever sounds forced. The vocals (shared by Vassar and Gordon Terry) give the session a relaxed feel that someone still keeps the listener's attention.

This effort is a must-have for fans of Vassar, and a whole lotta fun for fans of swing, country, and bluegrass music.

1. San Antonio Rose
2. Texas Blues
3. Take Me Back To Tulsa
4. Delta Blues
5. Fais Do Do
6. Breakfast Feud
7. Browns Ferry Blues
8. It's Dark Outside
9. Panhandle Rag
10. Blues For Dixie/Cherokee
11. Sentimental Journey
12. Back Home Again In Indiana
13. Sitting On Top Of The World
14. Crazy Cause I Love You
15. Hang Your Head In Shame
16. Vassar's Boogie
17. Little Rock Getaway
18. Yellow Sun
19. Gravy Waltz
20. C Jam Blues
21. Tippin In
22. You All Come
23. Last Song For Shelby Jean

Vassar Clements - vocals, fiddle, viola
Gordon Terry - vocals
Michael Melford - guitar, mandolin, piano
David Bromberg, Sam Pruett - guitar
Doug Jernigan - steel guitar, dobro
Benny Kennerson - piano
Ellis Padgett - bass
Kenneth Smith - electric bass
D.J. Fontana - drums