Music
Carmela Rappazzo: Whispering (Studiola Records)
Well, it’s not hard to imagine that scene with Carmela Rappazzo’s Whispering. There is a cabaret theatricality to it, flowing from that opening, not forced, not in every song, but threading through the words and sounds and manners. And it’s probably no accident that several songs make explicit allusions to acting and pretending, to playing roles.
Genius and Depth: Jon Batiste always smiles when talking about New Orleans
Of course, Batiste always seems to be smiling. His effervescence helped propel him to global fame as bandleader/cohort on Late Night With Stephen Colbert from its start in 2015 to August 2022, when he left to focus on his own projects. Well, that and his prodigious musical talents and scope as he’s showcased his vast, ever-expanding universe of soul, R&B, pop, jazz and classical.
Dan Montgomery: Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads (Fantastic Yes Records)
“What you did back then don’t mean a thing today,” sings Dan Montgomery in the cast-iron curtain-raiser for this affectionately rocking set.
Nick Spitzer of American Routes Talks Back
Nick Spitzer of American Routes Talks Back. Nick Spitzer is rarely at a loss for words. His conversational ease and deep knowledge of music across a wide spectrum have been at the core of American Routes, the New Orleans-based and widely syndicated public radio show he’s produced and hosted since 1999, on which he’s talked with musical artists both obscure and famous from blues, country, folk and much more, eliciting stories and insights far beyond the common canon.
Exuberance and Passion: Angélique Kidjo makes a lot of music
Angélique Kidjo is rapturously, ravenously eating crawfish, stuffing her mouth from her hands, making ecstatic noises, then rubbing the top of her shaved head in the throes of pure elation, never mind the residue and spices she’s getting all over.
A Joyful Thing: Renee Rosnes and ARTEMIS capture the heart of jazz
As Renee Rosnes describes the various attributes of members of ARTEMIS, the all-star jazz sextet that the pianist-composer-arranger leads, certain words and phrases seem to come out in boldface.
All The Crunchberries: Something Else! is infectious soul-jazz with a powerhouse lineup
Vincent Herring goes off on a surprising tangent when trying to describe soul jazz, the sub-genre given tribute by the group Something Else!, a stars-filled ensemble which the saxophonist created a few years back and still leads.
Celebrating Puerto Rico: Jazz Fest features everything Puerto Rican from music to food
After Puerto Rico was devastated by both Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, plans were made for the island’s rich heritage to be showcased as the Cultural Exchange for the […]
Krewe du Vieux Beats Off: Jan Ramsey named Queen of Krewe du Vieux
After picking OffBeat founder and published Jan Ramsey as the 2023 Queen, the folks at Krewe du Vieux tread a little lightly when telling her what they had decided on for the theme.
Positive Vibes: Mike Dillon Is The Musician Who Can’t Say No
Percussionist Mike Dillon’s presence and talents are coveted
