Hyper Music Reference Standard - Volume 2
The Kings of Swing was a 17-piece dance band that originated in 1944 at Seattle’s Cleveland High School and remained together after graduation. The band broke up In 1949 when several of the members went to war in Korea. In the early 1980s, some original band members decided to reform the band and attracted new musicians including Paul Sawtelle.
When Gary Koh asked Paul to play at the Pacific Audio Fest in 2022, the Kings of Swing had broken up due to COVID-19. Paul seized the opportunity to put a band together. He had to recruit new musicians to make up a 17-piece band, but he knew that having former members with their many years of playing together would give the band a tight core.
The band's music from the big band era preserves the sound and ambiance as well as the history of the music from the time of Speakeasys and USO dance halls, where swing was king and 17-piece bancs were commonplace.
Serendipity and the love of music.
2025 Positive Feedback Writers Choice Awards
"Live at Pacific Audiofest is a no brainer to add to your record collection."
Review: Positive Feedback - Jeff Day
"The sound quality is superb, it is tonally natural, amazingly dynamic, with lots of visceral presence and power, and of course the musicians knocked it out of the ballpark with their performances. "
After the success of the Hyper Music Reference Standard Vol. 1, we wanted to follow up with something accessible to more audiophiles and music lovers. Like Volume 1, Bernie Grundman mastered the recording and cut the lacquers; production was done by Fidelity Record Pressing and Paramount Plating.
An Audiophile Classic Record Album is Born: The sound quality is superb, it is tonally natural, amazingly dynamic, with lots of visceral presence and power.
Positive Feedback
Jeff Day
Record One (side A & B)
A1. In The Mood 3:44
A2. I've Heard Th at Song Before 2:56
A3. Big Spender 2:00
A4. Things Ain't What They Used To
B1 4:30 B1. Too Darn Hot 3:46
B2. Tuxedo Junction 3:13
BJ. Blue Skies 2:28
B4. Why Don't You Do Right 3:37
Record Two (side C & D)
C1. Jumping At The Woodside 2:55
C2. Just In Time 2:10
C3. Satin Doll 4:47
C4. Pennies From Heaven 3:11
D1. I've Got You Under My Skin 3:37
D2. Take The A-Train 3:14
D3. Sing, Sing, Sing 4:55
Executive Producers
Ki Choi and Gary L Koh
Recorded and mixed direct-to-two-track by:
Dr. Phillip Chance and Ki Choi
Mastering Engineer
Bernie Grundman
Liner notes
Paul Sawtelle