Chevalier Brothers (the) – Bar Tender
Waterfront Records – WFST 005 [1984]
Bar Tender / Coco Beano – On The Tip Of My Tongue
In early 1982, ex-Dynamite Band saxophonist Ray Irwin, formed the Chevalier Brothers with French guitarist Patrice Serapiglia in 1982. They subsequently adopted the pseudonyms Ray Gelato and Maurice Chevalier. They first played with a tea-chest bass player but soon recruited Clark Kent (aka Anders Jane from the Stargazers) on double bass and Roger Downham (who changed his name for Roger Beaujolais) on vibraphone.
Finding a good drummer wasn’t that easy. They played for a while with Ricky Lee Brawn but he was judged too Rock’n’Roll for the band. Eventually, during the summer of 1983 they finally found the missing piece in Johnny Piper, a young jazz drummer with excellent technique and feel. Unfortunately, Piper left the group for almost a year to pursue his studies in Los Angeles. The Chevalier Brothers would use several different drummers during this period.
In October 1983, the Chevalier Brothers, with Peter Fairclough on drums, entered the studio to record their first vinyl release. Three tracks were recorded during this session. Bar Tender, composed and sung by Ray, was a highlight of their live performances. The B-side consisted of two instrumentals: the swinging On The Tip Of My Tongue (Roger Beaujolais), and the exotic Coco Beano, written by Patrice, a perfect song for enjoying colorful cocktails.
The final result, while excellent, doesn’t fully capture the magic and spontaneity of the band’s live performances, and, at Patrice’s insistence, the EP was released in a limited run of only 1,500 copies.
This same lineup also appeared on the compilation Live In London Volume 1 (Ace Records) with two songs: Five Guys Named Moe and Jumpin’ At the Woodside.
Chevalier Brothers (the) – I Like ‘Em Fat Like That
Mean Records – MEAN 105 [1984]
I Like ‘Em Fat Like That / Ice Cream Man
In 1984, the Chevalier Brothers returned to the studio, this time with Geoff Britton (aka C Brittoni) on drums. Four tracks were recorded: a cover, I Like ‘Em Fat Like That (Louis Jordan), and three original compositions. Beaujolais contributed an exotic instrumental in a vein similar to Coco Beano titled Ice Cream Man. Gelato wrote or co-wrote the other two: Self Inflicted and Wake Up Baby both penned by Gelato.
I Like ‘Em Fat Like That and Ice Cream Man were released as a single, and the entire session was compiled into an EP (Mean Records 12 MN 105).
The band’s skill was undeniable, but lacking a producer intimately familiar with their music, the studio atmosphere somewhat stifled the band’s energy.
Chevalier Brothers (the) – Live and Jumping
Disques Cheval GG1
Five Guys Named Moe – Reet Petite And Gone – Fat Sam From Birmingham – Airmail Special – Self Inflicted – The Joint Is Jumping – The Jam Man – One More Drink Bartender – Wake Up Baby
Faced with the difficulty of fully capturing the essence and personality of the Chevalier Brothers in the studio, the decision was made to record a live album.
Thus, Live and Jumping was recorded in March 1985 over two evenings: the 2nd at St. Mary’s College in Twickenham and the following day at Dublin Castle. The album was released on the band’s own label (Les Disques Cheval).
With only nine tracks, Live and Jumping offers a tight and effective set that takes no prisoners. The program includes covers of classics by Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian (Air Mail Special), Slim Gaillard (The Jam Man), Fats Waller (The Joint Is Jumpin’), and Louis Jordan (Five Guys Named Moe, Reste Petite and Gone, Fat Sam From Birmingham).
There are also much more convincing, unrestrained, and freer versions of the band’s own compositions, such as Self Inflicted, One More Drink Bartender (on which the vocal interjections between the singer and the band sound much less artificial), and Wake Up Baby.
On stage, their natural element, each member gives their all. The Chevalier Brothers don’t treat this music like a museum piece and aren’t aiming for a reenactment. They are certainly respectful, but they infuse their music with humour and energy (and speed), blend genres, and quote freely. This refreshing approach, coupled with high musical standards, allows for complete freedom and firmly anchors the group in its era.
In this respect, the Chevalier Brothers extend what Joe Jackson launched with his album Jumpin’ Jive and predate the Neo-Swing movement of the mid-1990s by more than ten years.
Chevalier Brothers (the) – Baby You’re Something Else
Disque Cheval – DCGT01 [1986]
Baby You’re Something Else – I Hope I Die Before I Go Bald
In 1986, the Chevalier Brothers released what would be their last record with Maurice Chevalier, their French guitarist.
The A-side features Baby You’re Something Else, which is sung in a smooth voice by Maurice and features superb brush drumming by Johnny. On the B-side, one finds Hope I Die Before I Go Bald, a humorous composition by Ray. For this track, Gelato focused solely on vocals, giving Maurice free rein for a superb solo (and conversely, Maurice didn’t play on Baby You’re Something Else). Also noteworthy was the first time a piano was featured, played by Simon Wallace (Deep Sea Jivers).
The maxi-single included an extended version of Baby You’re Something Else and a third track, Big Bad Betty, composed by Ray, which, following I Like Em Fat Like That, and Fat Sam From Birmingham saw the band continue their thematic exploration.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
