Gust Spenos Quartet
Swing Theory
Swing Theory LLC
By George W. Harris

You’ve gotta love Spenos, the tenor player and leader of this band. The cover alone, which features the likes of Duke, Nat, Frank, Count, and all the rest in a classroom setting, is an absolute hoot. The music, which includes trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and Eric Schneider on alto and clarinet, is a fun filled collection of swing standards played with a heart on its sleeve attitude. Spenos’ tenor is deep and sonorous, almost sounding like a baritone at times. His work on “Cheek to Cheek” and “At Long Last Love” is as rich as molasses. The seldom heard “Mountain Greenery” shows off the snappy rhythm section of Marvin Chandler (p), Frank Smith (b) and Kenny Phelps (d). Vocalist Everette Greene joins in for a couple of tunes as well. Non-threatening, no major trails blazed, but a ton of good times in this classroom.