Duw Duw

An abiding affinity for Cajun and zydeco music permeates Duw Duw, the debut album by London-based singer-guitarist Dai Price and his Ramblers (Alan Dunn on accordion, Bob Loveday on fiddle and Rupert Gillett on double bass). Dai’s smoothly honed alto voice is pleasant enough, and the band conjures up flashes of satisfying finger-snapping swing and sweet soulful blues.

One of the album’s highlights, a cover of Freddie Hubbard’s Latin- tinged classic ‘Little Sunflower’, benefits from a deliciously applied folk-jazz treatment, graced by fine solos from Price and Loveday, and a lovely layering of cello by Gillett. Price contributes his own ‘Every Day’, a sprightly love song offering an effective counterpoint to the boogie-woogie romp of Ray Charles’ ‘What’d I Say’ and the gospel-inflected groove of Tom Waits’ ‘Way Down in the Hole’, made famous as the theme from The Wire. A warm analogue glow illuminates this easy listening collection, which some listeners will appreciate more than others.