Dance Party, Vol. 2

When Tony Mottola and His Orchestra start dispensing their dance rhythms, people really sit up and take notice – and immediately head for the dance floor. Their renditions are refreshingly imaginative and smoothly paced with an inventive counterplay between instruments that offers an assured balance of freedom and discipline. For the most part, the unique musical touch is derived from Tony Mottola’s magical guitar improvisations, the nucleus around which many of the melodies revolve... whatever the tempo, whatever the style. Such fast moving numbers as the hard-driving blues You’ll Miss Me Someday, the jump-accelerated Headin’ For Heaven and the variation-happy Tick Tock can be placed side by side with the leisurely charm of a lilting “dream” waltz like Jeanette, or the sultry-toned Bongo Beguine – but varied as they may be, all the performances are exciting invitations to dance. Among the other equally provocative items are the waltz-time tune filled with nostalgia and sprinkled with stardust called You’re Just As Sweet Today, Sweetheart, and the rhythm ballad paced by Tony’s guitar, Sitting On The Doorstep. A happy chuckle is added to the heel-and-toe steps of the light, gay and infectious Jive Jump Polka. For a change of pace, there’s also the romantic and flowing ballad, Serenade At Sunset. The album closes with a free-for-all Swing-A-Ling that really points up the fresh imaginativeness of this musically outstanding ‘Dance Party.’ Among the prominent sidemen who help to make this a successful Dance Party are: Billy Butterfield, trumpet; Stan Webb, reeds; Nick Perito, accordion; Lou Stein, piano; Bobby Haggart, bass; Terry Snyder, drums.