The public’s fascination with swing may have peaked more than a decade ago, but there are still some great choices for those looking for a little lively music and a good time.

The first disc is Fat Joyhum by Little fats & Swingin’ Hot Shot Party + Futarinori. Littlefats & Swingin’ Hotshot Party is a Japanese rag band that names the great Louis Armstrong and the seminal Fats Waller among their many musical influences. The album is pretty short, a mere six tracks, but it certainly leaves a good impression. The second disc is a compilation album, Get Hip Showcase 2. It has tracks by the above mentioned Littlefats & Swingin’ Hot Shot Party, Fat Joyhum duets and several other Japanese swing bands.

It took me a few plays to decide, but overall I found these albums to be enjoyable. Since the compilation album features six (out of sixteen) tracks by Little fats or Fat joyHum, the feel of both albums is largely the same. “Bouncy” is what comes to mind when I tried to describe the albums to someone unfamiliar with swing. Both albums replicate the lively, earnest feel to early twentieth century swing.

Of the two albums, I enjoyed the Get Hip Showcase 2 more than its brother. There are some great standards, but “Frim Fram Sauce” by Little fats & Swingin’ Hot Shot Party stands out with an effort to be true to the essence of the early swing genre. There are also some tracks that have distinctly Japanese touches, for those who appreciate such things, but the focus is on re-creating the essence of the early swing era.

What are my final thoughts? Would I recommend buying these two discs? My answer is a resounding maybe. The Get Hip Showcase 2 is a nice addition to an already extensive collection. For the novice looking to get a feel for the genre, I can think of better compilations. Fat Joyhum is a nice disc, but I didn’t get as much from it as I did from Get Hip Showcase 2.

Little fats & Swingin’ Hot Shot Party: http://www.myspace.com/lfshsp