Journey To Nawlins, Chapter I - Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens : The Big Ol' Box Of New Orleans (1927-2003)

→ Thanks also to the late Blue DeVille

The Big Easy in a box

The Crescent City, The Big Easy (sometimes The Big Sleazy for its darker sides), The City that Care Forgot, NOLA... welcome to New Orleans announces the short opening track by Galactic & Theryl deClouet, mischievously adding “welcome to the Third World”.

This fascinating 4-CD box embarks us on a 5-hour cruise into the extreme richness of the unique musical melting-pot of New Orleans. A Wikipedia article describes it better than I would : “New Orleans has long been a significant center for music, showcasing its intertwined European, African and Latino American cultures. The city's unique musical heritage was born in its colonial and early American days from a unique blending of European musical instruments with African rhythms. As the only North American city to have allowed slaves to gather in public and play their native music (largely in Congo Square, now located within Louis Armstrong Park), New Orleans gave birth in the early 20th century to an epochal indigenous music : jazz. Soon, African American brass bands formed, beginning a century-long tradition. […] The city's music was later also significantly influenced by Acadiana, home of Cajun and Zydeco music, and by Delta blues.”

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Accordingly, this 4-CD set features all kinds of different styles. There is the good ol’ New Orleans jazz and the Mardi-Gras and Carnival brass bands (Louis Armstrong, Rebirth Brass Band, Paul Sanchez, Sidney Bechet, Vernel Bagneris, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Deacon John Moore, George Lewis' Ragtime Band, Tuba Fats' Chosen Few Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Coolbone, Tom McDermott & Evan Christopher, New Birth Brass Band, Ellis Marsalis, Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band, The New Orleans Jazz Vipers, Tim Laughlin, Pete Fountain & His Band).

There is Boogie (Champion Jack Dupree, Eddie Bo, Henry Butler), Gospel (Raymond Myles) and Blues (Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Jelly Roll Morton, Earl King, J. Monque'D, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Professor Longhair, Sonny Landreth, Walter "Wolfman" Washington),

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

There is the famous New Orleans Rhythm'n'Blues, Soul and Funk (Ernie K-Doe, The Radiators, The Meters, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Johnny Adams, Leigh Harris, Galactic, The Neville Brothers, James Andrews, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band With Danny Barker & Eddie Bo, Aaron Neville, Smiley Lewis, Allen Toussaint, The Wild Magnolias, Benny Spellman, Charmaine Neville Band With Reggie Houston & Amasa Miller, Anders Osborne, Mem Shannon & The Membership).

There is Rock’n’Roll (Fats Domino, Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns, Irma Thomas, Al Johnson, Shirley & Lee, Frankie Ford, Chris Kenner, James Booker, Troy Andrews, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Snooks Eaglin).

Beau Jocque

There is the Creole French rural Zydeco and Cajun music from the bayous (Beausoleil, Clifton Chenier, Balfa Toujours, Buckwheat Zydeco, Boozoo Chavis, Zachary Richard, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys, The Red Stick Ramblers, New Birth Brass Band, Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Bruce Daigrepont, The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band).

There is the Afro-Caribbean influenced music and its intrinsic Voodoo culture (Dr. John, Lil' Queenie & The Percolators, Anders Osborne & "Big Chief" Monk Boudreaux, Don Vappie & The Creole Jazz Serenaders, The Hawketts, Dave Bartholomew) and some Latin Salsa (The Iguanas, Fredy Omar con Su Banda). There is even East European Jewish music with The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars.

Professor Longhair

This classification is artificial though : Jazz melts with Blues, Blues mixes with Afro-Caribbean sound and Rhythm'n'Blues, Rhythm'n'Blues and Rock’n’Roll with Jazz, Zydeco with Soul and Funk, Cajun with Rhythm'n'Blues and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, etc. Chuck Taggart who carefully produced this huge compilation for the Shout Factory! label has rightfully chosen not to organize these 85 songs chronologically or classify them thematically to let the music flow freely from one decade to another, from one genre to another, leaving us with the pleasure of traveling through more than three quarters of a century and of discovering numerous artists less renowned outside of New Orleans and Louisiana, even more so abroad,

As a dizzy merry-go-round, these different musical genres melt together into the inimitable New Orleans sound : horns are never far, neither is piano with great iconic players (Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Champion Jack Dupree, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker) nor very typical rhythms resulting from different origins, including Native American culture.

It is undoubtedly dancing music celebrating the carefree and easy-going life in the Big Easy, stronger than the dark episodes of its history. It’s not surprising than after the Katrina disaster, musicians were among the first to come back to town to preserve the unique musical identity of their city.

Of course, one can express a few regrets, for example the absence of C.C. Adcock’s “Couchemal” (though he is a Lafayette native) or Tab Benoit, but this collection is a rare and marvelous dive into the multi-cultural music of a fascinating city.

The most iconic New Orleans musician, Louis Armstrong, sums it all up when he sings : “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans ?” ■

Live videos

A random selection of live performances of (almost all) the artists & bands featured in the box set.

Kermit Ruffins

● Kermit Ruffins, "Drop Me Off In New Orleans", Jam in the Van, 2012 : https://youtu.be/4WtmkES0X48

● The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars, Jewish Music Festival, 2006 : https://youtu.be/wC5hdtYN8iI

● Fats Domino, Austin City Limits, 1986 : https://youtu.be/kFZrXw0ccwQ

● Little Richard, “Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On”, 1963 : https://youtu.be/KzYJS3ksH_s

● Louis Armstrong, Berlin, 1965 : https://youtu.be/bUfrP-IBrkI

● Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Orleans : https://youtu.be/CZ6NHEzHIrg

Allen Toussaint (piano) & Earl King (guitar)

● Deacon John Moore, “Jump Blues", 2007 : https://youtu.be/QqGa1fqrkc4

● Boozoo Chavis, "Johnny ma cabrille" and "Tell Me What's The Matter" , 1996 : https://youtu.be/H8gMkY3o-T4

● Champion Jack Dupree, “The Railroad Blues”, 1970 : https://youtu.be/8Z_O9egbLj8

● The Neville Brothers, New Orleans, 1991 : https://youtu.be/tSAWlAx-hX4

● Allen Toussaint with Chick Carbo, Earl King, Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe & Jesse Hill, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest., 1992 : https://youtu.be/t8ruQJ2kskI

● Dr. John, Prof. Longhair, The Meters & Earl King, 1974 : https://youtu.be/_Ni86fbehf8

● Snooks Eaglin, “Mustang Sally”, Storyville Jazz Hall, New Orleans, 1985 : https://youtu.be/Kv1yuRFkloc

● James Andrews, "Ooh poo Pah Doo", Nice, France, 2016 : https://youtu.be/-0QOVFsnfuc

● Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest., 2014 : https://youtu.be/J70LtjYLdDA

The Wild Magnolias

● The Wild Magnolias, "Party", Louisiana Seafood Fest., New Orleans, 2013 : https://youtu.be/caXT7_1WXYk

● Tuba Fats' Chosen Few Brass Band, Jackson Square, New Orleans, 2002 : https://youtu.be/vS2BpY2z0hA

● The Iguanas, “Para Donde Vas”, Memphis, 2010 : https://youtu.be/IHdUGsNKH3s

● Aaron Neville, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest., 2013 : https://youtu.be/-hgfQLcH9qc

● Galactic, "Gossip", Tipitina's, New Orleans, 2010 : https://youtu.be/vc1is9RoNgA

● Lil' Queenie & The Percolators : https://youtu.be/QlWIe370Atk

The Radiators

● Rebirth Brass Band, “Feel Like Funkin' It Up”, Chattanooga, Tennessee : https://youtu.be/NnV9eK3uZfU

● Marcia Ball, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest., 2015 : https://youtu.be/24u5Iv6-wfM

● The Radiators, Louisiana World Exposition, 1984 : https://youtu.be/tJMz1rYszwI

● Huey Smith's Clowns, "Rocking Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu", 1996 : https://youtu.be/0wUSllKinAI

● Johnny Adams & Walter "Wolfman" Washington, “Stand by me” : https://youtu.be/pCxdlfuTG6I

● Balfa Toujours, Festivals Acadiens, 2001 : https://youtu.be/qsL3qGLqcx4

Eddie Bo (right)

● Don Vappie & The Creole Jazz Serenaders, 2008 : https://youtu.be/7J9CVdfQ_2U

● George Lewis Ragtime Jazzband, “Burgundy Street Blues” : https://youtu.be/tKL-RJDPH3w

● Vernel Bagneris & Orange Kellin, "Down In Honky Tonky Town", Columbia, Missouri, 2006 : https://youtu.be/3m2cd01JJjw

● Eddie Bo, “Hook & Sling”, Jazz à Vienne, France, 2006 : https://youtu.be/LTicbiyT7kk

● J. Monque'D Blues Band, “I'm a creole man”, Jazz Fest., 2019 : https://youtu.be/K8iRH5L98Xs

● Paul Sanchez, “At The Foot Of Canal Street”, New Orleans, 2010 : https://youtu.be/R1Q5Lgzbh0c

Zachary Richard

● Dirty Dozen Brass Band, “I Used To Love You (But It's All Over Now)”, 1989 : https://youtu.be/hQdV0G-WLro

● Zachary Richard & Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Austin City Limits, 1994 : https://youtu.be/A0ipDidBlcY

● Zachary Richard, “Au Bord Du Lac Bijou“, Montréal, 1997 : https://youtu.be/ksGn60UFNQ4?t=32

● Dave Bartholomew Orchestra, Jazz à Vienne (France), 1990 : https://youtu.be/bNSZAmkVxfE

● Clarence Gatemouth Brown, "Honky-Tonk", Austin : https://youtu.be/Mnx1cheoSkg

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

● Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, “Mo Hippa”, 2014 : https://youtu.be/lSDyh36miqY

● Ellis Marsalis, "Twelve's It", New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Center, 2018 : https://youtu.be/PQHeWRv0zIE

● Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, ”St. James Infirmary“, British Columbia, 2009 : https://youtu.be/Kq8ZqVTrOFI

● Sonny Landreth, “Native Stepson”, Dallas International Guitar Fest., 2019 : https://youtu.be/R72hJUoJIQ4

● Anders Osborne, “Stoned, Drunk & Naked”, Brooklyn, NY, 2015 : https://youtu.be/W0k7Zhh9xX4

Buckwheat Zydeco (right)

● Dr. Michael White, "Canal Street Blues", French Quarter Fest., New Orleans, 2017 : https://youtu.be/4klWpEVrZI8

● Coolbone, Montignac Music Fest., France, 2010 : https://youtu.be/9EAu_FMYjDc

● Buckwheat Zydeco, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest., 2016 : https://youtu.be/aornZsKUPwI

● Fredy Omar con su Banda, New Orleans Jazz Fest., 2014 : https://youtu.be/FGHxD7SJOFw

● Charmaine Neville, “The Right Key, But The Wrong Keyhole”, New Orleans, 2009 : https://youtu.be/GZlPTCsWR60

● Geno Delafose band, 2014 : https://youtu.be/VF-QGuZzwIk

● Tom McDermott & Evan Christopher, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, 2011 : https://youtu.be/Fj9oX4dgIh0

Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band

.● Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Nuits Cajun & Zydeco, Saulieu, France, 2014 : https://youtu.be/VlbPutc5ECw

● Tim Laughlin, live from his balcony in the New Orleans French Quarter, during the Covid confinement, 2020 : https://youtu.be/1c9tW07ufp4

● Shirley & Lee, “Let The Good Times Roll”, 1974 : https://youtu.be/degWK8i0RiM

● Frankie Ford, “Sea Cruise”, 1959 : https://youtu.be/i5tIHtbctFQ

● Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys, “La Danse de Mardi Gras”, Eunice, LA, 2012 : https://youtu.be/fngcf94gmqM

● Rebirth Brass Band, “Do Watcha Wanna”, New Orleans French Quarter, 2008 : https://youtu.be/3E1VBCcA76E

Mem Shannon & The Membership

● Clifton Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, “Louisiana Two-Step”, San Francisco Blues Fest., 1982 : https://youtu.be/UtB7Idkqxr0
● The New Orleans Jazz Vipers , 2008 : https://youtu.be/g7DR1tSXLiU

● Lloyd Price, "Stagger Lee", TV show, 1973 : https://youtu.be/s9karS5UV0s

● Mem Shannon & The Membership, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest., 2011 : https://youtu.be/gbhfssx7XYs

● James Booker, Montreux Jazz Fest. : https://youtu.be/Ooy1T6YDUko

● Beausoleil, “Le Jig Français”, 1990 : https://youtu.be/D1lsImAUzHY

The Red Stick Ramblers

● Henry Butler, "Bourbon Street Blues", 2017 : https://youtu.be/Nqce-XHH5ig

● Pete Fountain at the first New Orleans Jazz Fest., 1978 : https://youtu.be/MnFek8TvE7w

● Raymond Myles, “Jesus, The Baddest Man In Town” : https://youtu.be/ype5a8uPSUc

● The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Center, 2022 : https://youtu.be/VrjZ0-WU2VU?t=48

● The Red Stick Ramblers, “Les Oiseaux Vont Chanter” : https://youtu.be/ZU2KJOyRi2Y

● Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers, “Give Him Cornbread”, circa 1995 : https://youtu.be/koUDni7aOP0