Music
Dexter Payne Quintet, Jazz for All (Jazz Forro) (Dexofon Records)
The past 30 years have seen a groundswell of American interest in early Brazilian music, fueled (I believe) in part by releases by Arthur Moreira Lima on Pro-Arte Digital and […]
Doro Wat Jazz Band, Doro Wat Jazz Band (Album Review)
With all the trad jazz talent in New Orleans these days, it was bound to happen: Someone decided to put together a “superstar” band. Not superstar in the sense of […]
Charlie Dennard, Sozinho (Independent)
Charlie Dennard is a New Orleans native who splits his time between the Crescent City and Cirque de Soleil. With Sozinho, he’s recorded one of the most elegant solo piano […]
Chris Champagne, “Secret New Orleans” (Jonglez Publishing)
This is a most unusual travel book: a guide for New Orleanians who’ve lived here for decades. There are 113 places listed; I’ve lived here 34 years and have been […]
Stanton Moore, “With You in Mind: The Songs of Allen Toussaint” (Mascot Records)
The late Allen Toussaint wrote hundreds of songs, many never recorded, many turned into local and national hits. He’s now entered the stage where eminent musicians are devoting entire albums […]
Shotgun Jazz Band, “Steppin’ on the Gas” (Independent)
The SJB is at the forefront of an exciting traditional jazz renaissance taking place in New Orleans, with most of the action on Frenchmen Street. The drumless rhythm section is […]
Jon Cleary, “Live at Chickie Wah Wah” (FHQ Records)
This is Jon Cleary’s first solo piano album. Since Jon is as good as anyone at performing the New Orleans R&B/funk songbook, people have been waiting eons for this. As […]
Smoking Time Jazz Club, “Ain’t We Fortunate” (Independent)
The last decade has seen a new bounty of interesting young trad jazz bands on Frenchmen Street. Old-timers like the Jazz Vipers, the Cottonmouth Kings, and the Little Big Horns […]
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau, “Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau” (Nonesuch)
The mix of an American vernacular string master with a jazz-pop pianist now is its own genre, apparently. It started with Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby, and Chick Corea and […]
Tim Laughlin, “The Trio Sessions, Vol. 2” (Gentilly Records)
Over a 25-year recording career, Tim Laughlin’s CDs have covered Jelly Roll Morton and Bix Beiderbecke with the Dukes of Dixieland, an album of originals, delicate duets with guitarist Hank […]
