INTERVIEW: Jim Caruso gives his ‘Swing Set’ album the deluxe treatment
Photo: Jim Caruso has released a deluxe version of his classic album The Swing Set. Photo courtesy of Christopher Boudewyns / Provided by Fortune Creative with permission.
Jim Caruso is a regular presence on the music and cabaret scene in New York City. His weekly Birdland engagement, called Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, is a mainstay that has attracted the theatrical elite to a fun night of frenzied Broadway and Great American Songbook music. And he’s also a frequent recording artist.
Evidence of his recording skills can be found on The Swing Set: The Deluxe Edition, a new version of his classic album out now from Club44 Records. This deluxe disc adds a couple tunes and enhances the overall listening experience.
For those who haven’t enjoyed this sonic goodness, Caruso released the album more than a decade ago, and it features such standards “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Avalon,” “Pick Yourself Up” and “Manhattan.” Helping him on the album is a bevy of special guests, including Michael Feinstein, Aaron Weinstein, Billy Stritch, Jane Monheit and Stephanie J. Block. A particularly poignant addition is the playing of the late guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.
To celebrate the release of The Swing Set: The Deluxe Edition, Caruso will host a series of special concerts. On May 28, he heads to the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles, followed by a May 29 gig at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California. Each night will feature a performance of Cast Party, which is Caruso’s unique open-mic night, according to press notes.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Caruso to learn more about the new edition of the classic album. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What motivated you to release this deluxe edition of The Swing Set?
I’m tickled to re-release The Swing Set! When the record came out in 2011, it was a labor of love produced by Michael Croiter and Aaron Weinstein, who also created the masterful arrangements. Honestly, that work was (and still is!) absolutely stellar. So when the wonderful folks at Club44 Records offered to bring it back to life and add it to my more recent recordings with the label, I jumped at the chance. I can’t wait for everyone to rediscover this swinging, joy-filled collection — it still makes me smile, and I hope it does the same for you!
What do you like about the song “Avalon”?
“Avalon” is a dazzler of a tune! It’s one of the all-time great standards, written by the legendary trio Al Jolson, Buddy DeSilva and Vincent Rose. Jolson’s version soared to #2 on the charts in 1922, and the song has been popping up in movies ever since. Sam even noodled it on the piano in Casablanca! I always loved the wild, swinging arrangement that Ella Fitzgerald, Perry Como and Caterina Valente tackled in the ‘60s, and Aaron Weinstein ran with the idea! Getting to re-record it with my BFF Billy Stritch and the beyond-brilliant Jane Monheit? Honestly, it was a dream come true!
What sets this journey into the Great American Songbook apart from other albums that explore the songbook?
What sets this journey through the Great American Songbook apart is the sheer uniqueness of the arrangements, thanks to the genius of Aaron Weinstein and his swoon-worthy jazz violin. He brings a whole new texture and swing to these classics that you don’t hear every day. Beyond that, I’m not just singing these songs — I’m madly in love with each and every one of them. They aren’t just selections; they’re old friends, and I hope you can hear that in every note.
How long have you been friends with Michael Feinstein? Billy Stritch? Jane Monheit?
Billy Stritch and I met in the 1980s when he lived in Houston and I lived in Dallas. We were both in vocal trios, haunting the same venues and bonding after gigs over our shared obsession with The Carol Burnett Show (those Peter Matz medleys deserve a second life!). Randomly, we both moved to NYC in 1990. He even helped install my first air conditioner, which is a true New York rite of passage. We worked together occasionally, but it wasn’t until my first solo run at Arci’s Place that we became an actual act. Since then, it’s been hundreds of shows with Liza Minnelli around the world, 22 years of Cast Party and 13 years at Bemelmans Bar. Not bad for two variety-show nerds from Texas!
Back in the ’90s, I had a vocal group called Wiseguys, and we found ourselves part of an all-star tribute to the composer Burton Lane. Michael Feinstein was the evening’s headliner, and after the curtain came down, we held court well into the wee hours, talking about music, legendary songs and the showbiz folderol that we all obsess over. From that night on, Michael and I have been thick as thieves. He’s talented, razor-sharp, knows where all the musical bones are buried and has been a champion of “Cast Party” since day one — joining us on stage many times. He’s a wonderful friend.
I’ve been a full-on Jane Monheit superfan since I listened to her first record. I mean come on, that voice is a miracle! And her stage presence? Straight out of an MGM dream sequence. We’re both part of the Birdland gang, so when she started showing up at Cast Party, I nearly fainted. Eventually, she, Billy and I cooked up Hollywoodland, our tribute to silver screen songs. I’ll never forget our first rehearsal — Jane Monheit singing in my living room? Unreal. She and her genius drummer/husband Rick Montalbano are not only wildly talented, they’re also top-tier hangs.
How is Jim Caruso’s Cast Party going?
Cast Party is better than ever. Every week is a musical surprise! We’re still packing the house at Birdland, and our beloved squad of regulars is more varied, vibrant and wildly talented than ever. It’s a joy to watch them cheer each other on like one big, eccentric showbiz family. And the “On the Road” events? Just as thrilling! We’ve taken the madness to London, L.A., Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Orlando. Honestly, we’ll bring the Party to your living room if you ask nicely (and maybe offer snacks). It’s a never-ending celebration of talent, community and come-what-mayhem.
What’s the rest of 2025 and 2026 look like for you?
The rest of 2025 and into 2026 is looking wonderfully busy. Jim Caruso’s Cast Party continues every Monday night in New York, and we’ll continue to tour it around the country, even hopping the pond to London in September. Our Sunday night residency at The Carlyle Hotel remains a dream gig, and Billy Stritch, Klea Blackhurst and I will be back with our annual holiday shows, which have become a tradition I adore. Most importantly, I want to keep working with shockingly talented people. They inspire me, keep me sharp and remind me why I fell in love with this business in the first place.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Swing Set: The Deluxe Edition by Jim Caruso is out now from Club44 Records. Click here for more information.
