(Hightone) The members of The Hot Club Of Cowtown are as diverse as their music. Vocalist, fiddler player, Elana Fremerman hails from Kansas, was classically trained on the violin, wound up in New York City studying classical viola, then abandoned classical music, after which her travels took her to India, Colorado, and then a return to New York City, where she then met Slim Smith. Vocalist Slim Smith hails from CT, studied in New York City, headed to Japan to pursue a music career before returning to New York. Upright bassist Jake Erwin hails from Oklahoma, and played with several bands around the state before moving to Dallas, Texas. Elana and Slim had met, found a common love of country music, and started playing together. They headed for Texas, where they met Jake, and are now based in Austin.

The Hot Club Of Cowtown isn't your average country band, nor do they play your average country music. Their sound combines the early European jazz stylings of Django Reinhardt with the early Western Swing sound of Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys. Though Hot Club only consists of three members, in listening to them you'd never guess it, because their sound is much bigger, where one doesn't even realize they use no drums at all. 

Both Elana and Slim are songwriters, and about half of Ghost Train is made up of their original penned songs, while the rest are covers. Both also split lead vocal duties. The songs on which Slim sings lead are those that have a more Gypsy/jazz Reinhardt influence to them. His vocals are warm, and his playing nearly flawless. "Sleeper" and "It Stops With Me," are up-tempo, written in the style of early 20's jazz, while "Paradise With You" is a romantic ballad. Elana's turns in the spotlight feature songs with a much more decidedly 30's and 40's country twang and swing sound. "Forget Me Nots" and "Secret Of Mine" are done in a classic Bob Wills style. She does an outstanding cover of Gershwin's "You Took Advantage Of Me," which fits in perfectly with the rest of the disc's songs. "Before You" is a shuffling waltz, and "Home" is a ballad with that Gypsy-jazz feel. 

Ghost Town's most outstanding moments come with the 4 songs that make up the balance of the disc. They include two red hot instrumentals. The Gypsy influenced "Fuli Tschai (Bad Girl)" and the country traditional "Cherokee Shuffle" spotlights some truly incredible bass playing by Jake, Elana shines on her fiddle, and Slim is just outstanding on his guitar work. The Hot Club do a masterful cover of Aerosmith's "Chip Away At The Stone," done in slow, mournful three-part harmony, accompanied by a lone acoustic guitar. Ghost Town closes out with a cover of Will E. Skidmore's 1916 penned "Pray When The Lights Go Out," another on which the group combines for vocals. This one's a joyous, hoot and holler romp about an over zealous preacher.

Produced by Gus Morlix, Ghost Town goes down smooth, yet has an unpolished sound that makes the feel of the disc warm and intimate. Both Elana's and Slim's originals fit in seamlessly with the covers. As instrumentalists, all three members are outstanding, and both Elana's and Slim's vocals warm and appealing, as they slide though their hybrid of jazz, Gypsy and Western swing influenced music. The Hot Club Of Cowtown offer up something a little different and offbeat, but for those looking for something other that the 'run of the mill,' Ghost Train is a highly enjoyable disc that should certainly satisfy your appetite.

http://www.hotclubofcowtown.com