Jazz vocal group Laurie Wheeler and Nash deVille has signed with Summit Records and this is their first CD for the label. According to Andrew Mark of InReview, “This group deserves this nod of approval for being the tightest, most versatile ensemble I’ve heard in town to date.” This CD by Music City’s only “vocalese” group lives up to Andrew’s endorsement. Laurie is the lead, and Rick Wheeler and Curt Bol contribute equally to the tight three-part harmony and tricky jazz rhythms that keep most groups from even attempting this sophisticated vocal style. Like all the best groups, they seem to blend together so joyously and effortlessly, you always hear the music, never how difficult the music is. With their regular rhythm section of Rick on guitar, Randy Smith on bass and Ron Krasinski on drums, they render 12 jazz classics with high energy and stylish detail. Top name guests like Larry Carlton (guitar on five tunes), Kirk Whalum (tenor sax on two tunes), and Mark Douthit (alto sax on three tunes) fit right in. Nash deVille transforms both swing era and modern jazz tunes into timeless gems that fans of any kind of jazz will like. The Count Basie Band’s “Lil’ Darlin’” and “Down For The Count” have the relaxed swinging punch for which the band was famous. The Glen Miller Band’s “Tuxedo Junction” is velvet smooth, with a nice acoustic-sounding guitar solo from Carlton that my surprise fans of his typical electric groove work. ‘40’s jive clas-sics like “Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie”, “I Like To Riff” and “That Cat is High” have the appropriate playful energy without sounding pretentious or fake. Duke Ellington’s bluesy “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be" is given a flat-out soul-groove with organ and guitar. And even Duke Pearson’s hard-swinging modern jazz instrumental classic “Jeanine” sounds as if it was Nash deVille’s tune all along. Get this CD, and go see them live, whenever you can!