The title of the album says it all. Guitarist Russell Welch certainly had time on his hands, like we all did, during the pandemic. He put it to better use than most by recording 17 songs in his studio in the Faubourg Marigny—an effort he calls “a collection of quarantine recordings.”

Welch is best known around town as the guitarist with Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns. But as Lake has branched off into other styles (see my review of her latest effort in last month’s OffBeat), Welch has doubled down on his fascination with hot jazz made famous by the great Django Reinhardt.

His quartet features similar instrumentation to some of the recordings Reinhardt made in the early to mid-20th century. Bassist Joshua Gouzy anchors the quartet on upright, Molly Reeves plays second guitar and Dr. Sick adds violin and musical saw. Tiff Lamson provides guest vocals on a dreamy “No Moon At All.”

Dr. Sick, who tours with the Squirrel Nut Zippers when he is not wowing audiences in New Orleans, deserves special mention for the tones he generates using his violin bow on an actual saw. The wavering notes, especially on the opening cut, “I Surrender Dear” can sound like a theremin or like otherworldly whistling as on “The Sheik of Araby.”

Welch is a standout throughout. He has definitively mastered the fast runs and improvisations that are a highlight of the hot jazz style. But he also brings a level of syncopation—perhaps reflecting his time in New Orleans—to the proceedings, pushing this collection in a fresher direction.

The album is long and veers all over the place from blazing instrumental takes on standards like “St. Louis Blues” to the humorous haunted house vocals on “You Are My Sunshine.” It’s a fine product from what I would call an excellent use of having time on your hands.