Issue Articles — Cover Story
What’s Up Boss? Kermit Ruffins: A Jolly Birthday
New Orleans, like most of the rest of the country, enjoys Santa Claus as a favorite icon of the Christmas season. However, the Crescent City, being its usual quirky self, also favors its own Yuletide personalities, the snowman-like Mr. Bingle and, yes, trumpeter, singer and the always jolly Kermit Ruffins. When the holiday draws near, Ruffins is quick to don a Santa hat and as soon as early November he’s been known to fill his club, Kermit’s Treme Mother-In-Law Lounge, with his favorite Christmas tunes much to the amusement of those coming through the door.
Tell It To The Wind: Joy Clark is no longer a guest in her own life
Joy Clark is on a ride as her career continues to grow, born of paying her dues with steady hard work. She has a new album, Tell it to the Wind, that promises to expand her fan base while engaging those who’ve been devoted for years. Her story is a good curious one, familiar yet unique, with the strong sensibility of remaining true to herself.
An Attitude For Altitude: The Return of the Headhunters
For over 50 years, The Headhunters have been breaking ground, first with Herbie Hancock, as the baddest most innovative band out there. They’re continuing to do so on new release The Stunt Man from Ropeadope. With albums including Head Hunters, Thrust, Flood, and Man-Child, they not only pioneered jazz-funk on a wholly other sonic level but also had a visual component now referred to as Afrofuturism. All this is in keeping with the ethos that you can’t go to the future without the roots of the past.
Dawn Richard Breathes Out
Dawn Richard is New Orleans through and through in the best possible way. She’s rooted in tradition and multi-talented. Always learning, always expanding. Her new album Quiet in a World Full of Noise, the second full-length collaboration with Spencer Zahn, essentially invents the genre of ambient R&B while being fully a Dawn album that showcases her lyricism.
Stand Up—Can You Hear Me?: ÌFÉ makes a different musical offering
The usual reaction upon hearing ÌFÉ for the first time is incredulous joy. You can simply enjoy it for the sake of unique organic electronic music that showcases Afro-Cuban rhythms, dancehall beats, Yoruban lyrics, and a charismatic front man who brings the love (for people) and the loathing (for inequality) into an experience unlike any other. You will also find in it the layers of roots, identity, and consciousness.
Automatic For The People: The Building and Bounce Back of Juvenile and Mannie Fresh
We are on the verge of a Hot Boys summer and upcoming year like no other. Essence features the Cash Money Records 30th Anniversary celebration on July 5. Two days later, the Donna Color Explosion will showcase Juvenile and Hot Boy Turk, among others. Only a few weeks ago, Juvenile, along with Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne, was honored with a proclamation from the city for the 25th anniversary of “Back That Azz Up.”
Where the Wild Seed Grows: Amina Scott Mines Her Mind
Those in the packed WWOZ Jazz Tent were thrilled to hear an exceptional performance by bassist Amina Scott and her stellar band on the last day of Jazz Fest. The set also marked the public debut of “Wild Seed” and “Praise” from Scott’s first album Where The Wild Seed Grows, which was released that same day. Scott’s been making a name for herself, and it’s great to see her own nuanced and innovative compositions come to the forefront. Think of an expansive sort of jazz as a touchstone for where to begin. It was time to learn her story.
Cyril Neville Preserves Neighborhood Culture
If you see Cyril Neville perform this year, you’ll probably hear a song called “Don’t Wait ’Till I’m Gone.” It’s a typically fiery bit of funk, with lyrics that say what a lot of well-traveled musicians are probably thinking: “Give me my flowers while I can still smell them, hear my stories while I can still tell them. Give me my medals while I can still wear them. Don’t wait till I’m gone!”
You Can Call Me Al: SaxKixAve dynamic duo Albert and Alfred
At a recent Tipitina’s show, SaxKixAve, the project of rapper Alfred Banks and multi-instrumentalist Albert Allenback, converted a packed house into a fan base. They are hip hop-fluid as you haven’t heard it before. In lesser hands, this would be a recipe for a muddy mess. The high-level Al’s, though, finesse it so well. One can’t help but pause the next day with awe that what they pulled off in an exceptional way is about to thrill festival goers.
Living That Vison: Singer-Songwriter Lynn Drury Endures To Open A New Chapter
Years ago, Lynn Drury pedaled her bicycle along the narrow streets of the French Quarter. Moments into her ride she stopped and realized that, 20 years ago, she had a vision of exactly what she was doing that day. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m living that vision’” she said.
