Asleep at the Wheel
with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Independent

Austin has much to be proud of, the University of Texas, Darrell Royal, Willie Nelson, Austin City Limits, and much much more but one of it's more recognized and beloved citizens is Ray Benson, artist extrordinaire and leader of the group known the world over as Asleep At The Wheel. Now, the group's history is well known and their status as Grammy award winning artists is well documented but there's always the question: how does an artist like Ray Benson and the 'Wheel' as they are affectionately known keep going after all these years? The answer is simple, they do it by combining two things, excitement and innovation. Listening to a Wheel album is like riding a Harley Davidson around a steep hill country road at a high rate of speed, you're not sure what's coming up next but you know you're going to like it.

This album, recorded live at the Bass Concert Hall in Fort Worth with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, can be best described by one word: Unbelievable. When the songs that are included on this album are presented with the intricate, melody driven arrangements that are both intense and melancholy at the same time, it has an affect that just has to be heard to be fully appreciated. One minute you're snorting dust on the west Texas plains, the next minute you're on the 51st floor of a swank New York ballroom with the most fantastic big band ever heard. The Wheel never sounded better, on all fronts. Benson's voice is ageless, carrying on the tradition of Bob Wills music with clarity and poise, while the other members shine as well, Elizabeth McQueen offers up her sultry, cosmotex voice to the classic 'What A Wonderful World' while the rest of the group which includes Jason Roberts on fiddle, David Miller on bass, Eddie Rivers on Steel, Floyd Domino on piano, and David Sanger on drums absolutely killed.

And kudos must be given to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra with a rich and historical past, the execution and production involved in a project like this is immense and can only be pulled off by an organization like this. Sharing the stage in past performances with stars like Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd,  James Taylor and Michel Bolton, it was only fitting that a live album with the Wheel would make an appropriate bookend to their collaborative efforts.

If you appreciate fine Texas Swing music or Jazz music or just fine, award winning knocked out of the park music, this is a must have. For more info go to asleepatthewheel.com or http://www.myspace.com/asleepatthewheel and don't let this one get away from you.



Greg Roberts