by Wanda Waterman

The Voice Magazine, Volume 22 Issue 20 2014-05-16

“Memory is a paradise out of which fate cannot drive us.”

– Alexandre Dumas, fils

Jack Malmstrom is the swing clarinetist who put together Jack’s Cats, a vintage-style jazz sextet based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that also includes keyboardist Gordon Fader, guitarist Dylan Quinn, bassist Mark Roberts, drummer Dave Skinner, and vocalist Kitty Farmer. The project, which quite successfully revives the “pre-bland” portion of the big band era in music, has also attracted the participation of some of the best jazz names in Atlantic Canada, including Holly Arsenault, Adam Fine, Mike Lee, and Kevin Cox.

Their debut album, Low Down Dirty Swing, comprised of both matchless instrumental arrangements, standard covers, and original tunes, will be out this month. Recently, bandleader Jack took the time to talk to Wanda Waterman about his fascination with vintage jazz and his long and winding road to Low Down Dirty Swing. (Read the article here.)