→ Thanks also to the late Blue DeVille
The city where music never stops
In a recent review,
I wrote : “New Orleans and her Mardi-Gras and Carnival, New Orleans and
her old dixie jazz, New Orleans and her jazz funerals and second line
parades, New Orleans and her tribal rhythms, New Orleans and her swamp
blues and bayou R'n'B, New Orleans and her Zydeco and Cajun music, New
Orleans and her French creole culture, New Orleans the unique, New
Orleans the Big Easy where music is a way of life, New Orleans the Big
Funky…” These few lines would fit perfectly this 2-CD Rough Guide.
 |
| James & Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews |
Before
going any further, one point to remember : in New Orleans horns are
sacred instruments, this jazz brass culture is modeling almost any
musical style played in the Crescent City. And even when horns are not
physically present, like on the Meters' “Look-Ka Py Py”, you still can
make them out behind the keyboards parts. Even Dumpstaphunk recently
felt the need to add two horn players to their permanent line-up.
 |
| The Hot 8 Brass Band |
CD1
“The Rough Guide” is roughly compiled around five main New Orleans
styles : the R'n'B (Jessie Hill, Earl King) and funk (The Meters,
Dumpstaphunk); the keepers of the traditions ― Mardi-Gras Indians music
(Big Chief Monk Boudreaux) or old Dixie jazz (Dr Michael White); the
second line-inspired brass bands, a specialty of New Orleans to which a
large section is devoted (James & Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews,
Kermit Ruffins, Papa Grows Funk, New Orleans Nightcrawlers, The Hot 8
Brass Band); the Latin, Caribbean and Afro-Cuban influences (Jon Cleary
& the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Los Hombres Calientes); and
finally the king of keyboards, the piano (Professor Longhair, Dr John).
 |
| The New Orleans Nightcrawlers |
In
this musical puzzle, some musicians could fit in several categories
simultaneously, most styles overlapping each other. For example brass
bands could also fit in the funk slot, Professor Longhair could also go
in the Afro-Cuban influences one...Notable
highlights ? Though the answer is a matter of personal taste, I'll risk
myself to mention those I find particularly representative of the
musical culture of the Big Easy and at the same time outstanding
musically. I'll start with the two excellent (funky) R'n'B “Ooh Poo Pah
Doo” (Jessie Hill) and “Look-Ka Py Py” (The Meters). Earl King's “Street
Parade, Part 1” is interesting for its lyrics which celebrate the
second-line partying culture of the city, but is far from being his best
title on a musical point of view.
 |
| Los Hombres Calientes |
Of
course I'll mention the unique Mardi-Gras Indian tradition from New
Orleans represented by “Monk's Mardi Gras” (Big Chief Monk Boudreaux).
In the brass bands, I'll pick up the “Zulu King” of the Andrews
brothers, Papa Grows Funk's appealing “Soul Second Line” carried by the
unique bass line of the sousaphone, and for the same reason as well as
for their exuberant vocals, “Hold 'em Joe” by the New Orleans
Nightcrawlers.I'll
still retain the contemporary “phunk” “Sheez Music” of Dumpstaphunk
though I'm not crazy about their vocals (read below). I'll mention
without any hesitation this time the salsa atmosphere of Los Hombres
Calientes on “El Barrio”, the live version of “Big Chief” by iconic
pianist Professor Longhair, and the equally iconic Dr. John on “Mac's
Boogie” that I take as a global tribute to all the great New Orleans
pianists : Fats Domino, Champion Jack Dupree, Allen Toussaint...
 |
| Papa Grows Funk |
The
bonus CD 2 “Dumpstaphunk”, independently from the fact that its being
paired up with CD 1 most likely obeys to promotional concerns, is the
first studio work of the band released in 2007 as a 5-title EP titled
“Listen Hear”, extended here with two new tracks, “Deeper” and “Oughta
Know Better”, from their 2010 album “Everybody Want Sum”.Founded
almost accidentally in 2003 by keyboard player Ivan Neville (son of
Aaron, the Neville Brothers' famous golden voice), who was due to
perform at the New Orleans JazzFest. The band also features Ivan's
cousin guitarist Ian Neville, the son of Art Neville, as well as two
bassists (yes, two !) and a drummer, recently completed with a pair of
trumpet and trombone players.
 |
| Dumpstaphunk |
As
for their “Sheez Music” on CD 1, I confess that the seven tracks
featured here disappointed me : I don't like their invading vocals very
much (though their lyrics sometimes show generous social concerns like
on “Turn This Thing Around”). In my opinion they occupy too much space
and spoil their fine instrumental skills. That's why I'll point out the
instrumental “Stinky” as my favorite. Musically I find their “phunk”
lacking those magic sparks that used to make the Meters and the Neville
Brothers so special.Maybe I'm too old for this type of hip-hop-influenced music. So I prefer switching back to CD 1. ■
No comments:
Post a Comment