The Singapore Slingers - Light My Way to Love (2021)

The Singapore Slingers, under the direction of Matt Tolentino, are one of the leading dance orchestras dedicated to music of the 1910s, '20s, and '30s. From their arrangements to their instruments to their performing attire -- everything is "period accurate." The 18-piece Slingers boast a 4-piece string section, 5-piece woodwind section, 3-piece brass section, and 5-piece rhythm section, giving them the flexibility to faithfully recreate a variety of arrangements, from nimble small jazz combos to Whiteman-esque showstoppers. The Singapore Slingers' first recording for Rivermont treats listeners to a cornucopia of vintage dance music, from hot fox trots, tangos, one-steps, rags, and rhumbas to sweet waltzes and plaintive ballads. Through it all, Tolentino's smooth vocals -- harkening back to crooners Bing Crosby, Smith Ballew, and Dick Robertson -- complete the orchestra's authentic sound. Featuring a 20-page generously illustrated booklet by Matt Tolentino, and recorded in sparkling 24-bit sound, "Light My Way to Love" is a delightfully entertaining (and highly danceable) collection of favorites and obscurities from the golden age of American Dance Bands.