The Zebra Walk

Under the direction of trumpeter Jeff Hughes, the Boston-based Brahmin Bellhops is an all-star group bringing together some of New England's finest traditional jazz musicians. In their second recording for Rivermont, the Bellhops turn the spotlight on the evocative, tuneful, dance-able songs of contemporary composer Buck Evans. Though the songs were written in the early 2000s, you'd swear they came straight out of the 1920s and '30s, complete with witty lyrics, exotic locales, and plenty of fox-trot rhythms. (Brahmin Bellhops fans will know that the group already recorded an album of Buck Evans songs in the 1990s for Stomp Off to great acclaim. This disc contains an entirely new set!) For these recordings, made in 2021-2023, the group includes the following musicians: Jeff Hughes (cornet and trumpet), John Clark (clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax), Craig Ball (clarinet, tenor sax), Herb Gardner and Lee Prager (trombone), Bob Barta (banjo, guitar, ukulele, mandocello, and vocals), Ross P