Whapweasel is an English dance band that takes the meat of traditional music and salts it heavily with jazzy dance-band stylings. Sure, we've all heard the pure-drop ceilidh bands that use only time-honored session instruments: fiddle, tin whistle, accordion, guitar. Well, the Whaps are here with a different idea, and it works so well I'm surprised it hasn't become a tradition all on its own.

The music is driven by the melodeon, played terribly well by Robin Jowett. He's ably backed by Rick Kemp on electric guitar, Brian Bell on bass, Mike Coleman on cittern, Heather Bell on keyboards and Bob Wilson on drums. The extra punch comes with Fiona Littlewood and Stuart Finden, whose saxophones add jazzy sizzle and flair to the mix.

The album has the sound of inventively arranged traditional music. It speaks well for the band -- primarily Jowett, Coleman and Finden -- that the CD is made up entirely of fresh, original pieces that sound traditional beneath the surface polish of dance-band excellence. And, believe me, the ladies and gents of Whapweasel make you want to dance, if only you can figure out how to make those traditional ceilidh steps look modern and stylin'. After all, I'm not sure a purely traditional choreography is in order with tunes like "Badunga," "The Tinted Quiff," "Stonk," "The Final Last Banana" and "The Sleeve in the Cheese."

Named, according to their website, for a small stream that flows quietly through Hexham Low Quarter in mid-Northumberland, Whapweasel still maintains its dance band origins but is increasingly in demand as a concert band. Well, no wonder. But I'll wager the audience wherever they go is tempted to pound the floor. This CD will give you that urge, too. And it holds up, I can tell you, to repeated listenings.

[ visit the Whapweasel website ]