Max Weinberg

Fans of the music interspersed throughout Late Night With Conan O'Brien will find The Max Weinberg 7 to be a fun swing-tinged rock album (or maybe a rock-influenced swing album). Led strongly by the vocals and guitar work of Jimmy Vivino as much as the drumwork of the bandleader, the songs are well performed but a little repetitive; many tunes ("Walk Right In," "Jumpted," "Rock This Joint") are essentially the song title repeated over and over with a basic jump blues vamp behind it, which is probably fun on the dance floor but a little tiring in a casual listen. However, the Bobby Day-esque "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz" would sound at home in any '50s jukebox, and the Dr. John-driven "Catch 'Em in the Act" is a great piece of New Orleans true-crime pulp fiction. For the most part, the instrumental pieces sound as though they'll be interrupted by commercials at any moment (just like on Weinberg's TV gig) but the performances are good and the production is bright. New Jersey residents looking for the next E Street Band won't find it here, but fans of well-crafted small-ensemble swing will be satisfied. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide