Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks – January 13, 2019

Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks – Greenwich Library Cole Auditorium – January 13, 2019

Separating the music from the history is impossible with Giordano’s ensemble (11 pieces!). He’s got the patter down just right, a bit corny, a bit self-deprecating, chock full of historical tidbits that seem to be overflowing from his walking-encyclopedia brain. The group specializes in music from the 1920’s-1930’s, giving it potential for maudlin, but no, this is lively and vital. It’s supported by the choice repertoire selection, with works by (I’m not distinguishing here between “composed by” versus “made famous by” – Giordano could reel ’em off just like that) Ellington, Biederbecke, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Lunceford (the lively closer, “Rhythm is Our Business” [business sure is swell!]), sufficiently hip for me. Fiddler Stein has been around, was part of the Prairie Home Companion house band, among others.