Debut album Trolley Songs features vocalists Jen Hirsh and John Stevens

STORE
A limited first edition of the 18-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra’s debut studio album, Trolley Songs, is now available for sale, directly from the band.  Consisting entirely of its own arrangements, this album represents the future of big band swing and features American Idol contestants Jen Hirsh and John Stevens.    Visit the STORE page to listen to audio samples and to order or download the album.

Below is the music video for “Trolley Songs,” the first single off the album.

Excerpt from the liner notes

With the release of our debut album, Trolley Songs, the 18-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra embarks on a quest to bring big band swing music into the 21st century. Not content with embracing a retro look and sound, we prefer to add innovative musical elements to this timeless art form and contribute to its evolution. This is not an easy task, as big band swing is one of the most sophisticated forms of American music ever created, with its complex chord structures achieved by four-part harmonies in three separate horn sections. However, we are more than just a band, rather a team consisting of a highly skilled arranger and composer, four extremely talented vocalists, and seventeen top-notch instrumentalists. Most team members are in their twenties and in tune with the trends of modern music yet are also rooted in the jazz/swing tradition. Two of our vocalists have performed on American Idol (John Stevens as a finalist in Season 3 and Jen Hirsh as a Hollywood contestant in Season 9), showcasing their ability to connect with a wide audience.

In this album, our 26-year-old arranger Danny Fratina transforms well-known standards and some of our original songs into unique big band showpieces. His vocal arrangements are tailored to accentuate each singer’s strengths and highlight his or her own distinctive sound and style. In addition, high-octane instrumental arrangements of two unusual cover songs provide a vehicle for our horn soloists to shine. Only by integrating these works into an album are we able to present the full spectrum of musical possibilities for this exceptional genre.

The sound on this album is pure and unadulterated. No Autotune or any other form of pitch correction was used. All of the instruments, from 17 to 31 pieces, were recorded live in one room, playing together as one ensemble. In the mixing and mastering process, little to no compression was employed, preserving dynamics and sound quality. While unconventional, we felt these measures were necessary to capture the life and soul embodied in the music and to keep it an art form rather than letting it be turned into a manufactured product.

The trolley, particularly ones used in Boston’s Green Line streetcar system, is a symbol of a modern classic enjoyed by the young and old. We have chosen this symbol to represent our band and the music