This recording of Skeets Tolbert's "Hit That Jive Jack" comes from Diana Krall's 1995 album All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio. The jive-era standard is performed at a brisk swing tempo of approximately 226 BPM in the key of G major, using a 32-bar AABA form based on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm." Krall opens the solo section on piano with two choruses, her playing swinging with infectious energy and rhythmic assurance at the fast tempo. Guitarist Russell Malone follows with two choruses at an even faster 234 BPM, his electric guitar lines darting through the rhythm changes with bebop-influenced precision and bluesy wit. The rhythm changes provide a time-tested harmonic vehicle that both soloists exploit with creativity and joy, their playing capturing the high-spirited, swinging energy of the jive era that Cole helped define. The G major tonality keeps the mood bright and exuberant, and the brisk tempo demands the kind of fleet technique and rhythmic command that both Krall and Malone possess in abundance. This track represents the most up-tempo and energetic performance on the album, demonstrating the trio's ability to generate the kind of propulsive swing that made the original Cole Trio so exciting.
