January 10, 2008-For Immediate Release

Hogfish Gumbo – “It’s All Good !” 

Kansas City, MO-Often when a band finally gets into the studio, their cautious efforts may drive them toward over-production, neurotic cleaning or worse - both. Creating that razors edge of live stage energy and quality mixing takes the ear of a musical professional steeped in their art. This is exactly what you’ll take home with the latest from Hogfish Gumbo - “It’s All Good” and believe me, it is.

This fresh menu of Cajun and Zydeco a la carte plays like a Louisiana eatery made for dancing. In fact, this entire album was made for dancing, right up to the original closing waltz for solo accordion “End of Evening.”

In the hands of Juha Silfverberg you’ll hear the accordion on a peer footing with some of Kansas City’s finest – Mark Cohick, James Albright, Mike McKinley and the great young talent of Trombonist Janne Silfverberg. This configuration never relegates the accordion the oft condemned background of musical “flavor” simply to fool the uninitiated. Instead, you’ll hear that level of musical ambassadorship which can only be forged from both instrumental mastery and years of immersion in the genre.

The entire album, while never predictable in its landscape of original arrangements, has a genuinely original tone reminiscent perhaps of any great 50’s band able to get you on your feet from track one – and keep you there. The coupling of Mike’s comfortable, inviting vocals and the bands instinctive solos proves that KC has a band par excellence in its own backyard with a lot to say about this music – to an audience who’s never heard it like this.

Brett Gibson–Musician