Out in California, there is a bandleader named Pete Jacobs who would probably be delighted to be mistaken with a drummer of the same name who retired way back in 1937. That's because both of these Pete Jacobs play swing, a style of jazz that seriously rivals rock or disco for motivating dancers. Age, era, and position in the combo hierarchy are the essential divisions between the two. Pete Jacobs & His Wartime Radio Revue were formed in late 1997, six decades after the drummer Jacobs was forced to retire due to health reasons. The latter artist had been a rhythm-section man through the original birth of the swing style. Bandleader Pete Jacobs has created a niche in the heart of the swing revival style, sometimes known as retro-swing or "fake swing" in its most obnoxious moments.
Jacobs, whose carefully researched presentation includes elements of a typical '40s radio broadcast such as news announcements and commercials, could hardly be accused of faking anything. Nonetheless, the group's stomping ground is southern California, leading to a certain type of gig that might make jazz buffs think otherwise -- namely Disneyland. Jacobs, whose enterprising combo includes three young female vocalists and an eight-piece horn section, is also active as a songwriter and producer of both records and children's television shows. His credits in the latter area include the TBN series Colby's Clubhouse.
