Right Now by Laura Fedele & The Blues Jumpers: A Timeless Swing Classic
If you’re a sucker for jazz and blues with that old-school swing vibe, Right Now by Laura Fedele & The Blues Jumpers is the kind of album that grabs your soul and doesn’t let go. Released back in 1985 in Italy under The Hot Phone label, this record feels like stepping into a smoky club where everyone’s dressed to kill and the band just won’t quit. It’s got all the right ingredients—Laura Fedele’s sultry vocals, killer horn sections, and a rhythm section so tight it could snap.
The album kicks off with “Comes Love,” and man, does it set the tone. Laura’s voice is smooth but packs this raw honesty, like she’s whispering secrets only you can hear. The way the clarinet dances around her voice? Pure magic. You can almost picture yourself swaying under dim lights, forgetting everything else exists. This track sticks with me because it’s one of those songs that sneaks up on you when you least expect it—like catching a whiff of perfume from years ago and suddenly being transported somewhere else entirely.
Then there’s “Choo Choo Boogie,” which is basically joy bottled up in three minutes. Lino Patruno’s guitar work here is ridiculous (in the best way possible). Every note zips by like sparks flying off a train track. And Fausto Rossi’s trumpet? Forget about it—it’s bold, brassy, and impossible not to grin at. This tune makes me wanna grab someone’s hand and spin ‘em around until we’re both dizzy. It’s playful, fun, and reminds me why music should feel alive.
What really ties this whole thing together is how effortlessly these musicians blend genres. Jump blues meets swing, with a dash of classic jazz thrown in for good measure. Claudio Perelli switches between alto sax, soprano sax, and clarinet like it ain’t no thang, while Marco Battelli holds down the basslines so steady you’d swear they were carved in stone. Oh, and Walter Ganda on drums? Dude knows exactly when to lay back and when to push things forward.
But honestly, what makes Right Now special isn’t just its technical brilliance—it’s the heart behind it. Listening to this album feels like eavesdropping on a conversation between friends who’ve known each other forever. There’s warmth, chemistry, and an unspoken understanding that comes through loud and clear.
Here’s the kicker though: I didn’t realize until halfway through writing this review that this album came out in 1985. Like…how?! These songs sound like they’ve been around forever, passed down through generations. Maybe that’s the mark of true art—it doesn’t age; it just becomes part of the fabric of life. Or maybe I’m overthinking it. Either way, if you haven’t heard Right Now, do yourself a favor and give it a spin. Just don’t blame me if you end up humming “Choo Choo Boogie” for days.
