August 2015

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BackTalk

Backtalk: Deacon John
"People see me, but they just don’t know,” says guitarist/vocalist/bandleader Deacon John, quoting the lyrics of Earl King’s “Let the Good… – Geraldine Wyckoff

Cover Story

The New Reconstruction: James Andrews and other musicians reflect on Katrina, the Federal Flood and the new new Orleans.
Welcome to the era of boosterism in New Orleans. We are being bombarded with endless references to the “Katrina recovery,” the… – John Swenson

Features

Pure Joy: Jamison Ross Honors the Past and Looks to the Future
Jamison Ross offers a second rhythm on the drums to open his exceptional debut release as a leader on Muddy Waters’… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Tradition Amid Destruction: Calvin Johnson, Jr. explores New Orleans’ future in James Demaria’s upcoming film, Trad
In the 10 years since Katrina, even a less-than-observant eye can see a drastic shift in the French Quarter in terms… – Frank Etheridge
Big and Inspiring
The Revivalists’ David Shaw was having an eventful weekend when we connected by phone on the 5th of July: He was… – Brett Milano
Armstrong's New Orleans
It’s hard to believe, but when it comes to landmarks from Louis Armstrong’s childhood and his teen years in New Orleans—the… – David Kunian

Fresh

The Katrina Song Playlist
The local songs written after Hurricane Katrina play like a time capsule, capturing everything that was in the air at the… – Brett Milano
Winning Over Audiences
Irvin Mayfield stood in front of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra on stage at the Théâtre Maisonneuve in Montreal. “We’re here… – John Swenson
Dressed in White - Twice
SoHo of the South, more commonly known as New Orleans’ Warehouse District, is also synonymous with the arts district of New… – Brittney Schering
Satchmo's Life in New Orleans
On July 29, the Louisiana State Museum, in conjunction with the Louis Armstrong House Museum, will exhibit “Satchmo: His Life In… – Brittney Schering
My Music: Greg Schatz
"I guess different songs start different ways. Sometimes you get a snippet of melody that comes into your head, or sometimes… – Laura DeFazio
Soundcheck: Five Questions with photographer Leon Morris
In your book Homage you say that New Orleans is a city that either breaks the rules or invents rules that… – OffBeat Staff
Opelousas' Zydeco Exhibit
When it comes to zydeco, Opelousas has always had it going on. The “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier and his rubboard-scrapping… – Dan Willging

In The Spirit

Cary Palmer / Bouligny Tavern
This is called Ay-Tete Fee, a bastardization of Cajun French, after the Clifton Chenier song. Basically, ‘Hey, little girl.’ It’s made… – Elsa Hahne

Letters

August 2015 Letters to OffBeat Magazine
MORE VOLUME Nowhere is [amplified sound] more an issue than in New Orleans where set after set of great music is… – OffBeat Readers

Mojo Mouth

Satchmo and Katrina
Satchmo SummerFest is back, celebrating the life of Louis Armstrong. It’s good to continue to call attention to the genius that… – Jan Ramsey

Obituaries

Obituary: Lenny McDaniel
New Orleans-born singer-songwriter Lenny McDaniel passed away July 3 after a long battle with kidney failure. He was 65 years old.… – Joseph Irrera
Obituary: Camille Bob
Camille Bob, known as “Lil’ Bob,” the creator of the swamp pop R&B party classic “I Got Loaded,” succumbed to cancer… – Jeff Hannusch

OffBeat Eats

Glen David Andrews Hits The Spot
What brings you here today? As far as the Andrews family is concerned, cooking runs deep. If music is 100 percent,… – Elsa Hahne
Dining Out: Ice Cream 504
One of Michael Southall’s most vivid childhood memories was his parents indulging him with a teaspoon of freshly brewed coffee in… – Peter Thriffiley

Dining Out

Dining Out: Ice Cream 504
One of Michael Southall’s most vivid childhood memories was his parents indulging him with a teaspoon of freshly brewed coffee in… – Peter Thriffiley

Reviews

Brad Walker, Quintet (Independent)
Saxophonist Brad Walker doesn’t make it easy to figure out just where he’s coming from. The North Carolina native, who arrived… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Dee Dee’s Feathers (Okeh)
The title of this collaborative album between Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Lonely Lonely Knights, Lonely Lonely Knights (Independent)
If you want to fight back against the forces that are trying to destroy live local music, this is a good… – John Swenson
Jimmy Robinson, Three (Independent)
If Woodenhead’s music is just too tricky for your tastes, guitarist Jimmy Robinson’s third solo CD is the perfect entry point.… – Brett Milano
Charlie Dennard, 5 O’Clock Charlie (Independent)
Organist Charlie Dennard was a regular on the New Orleans jazz scene beginning around the mid-1990s. He took an unusual detour… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Daria and the Hip Drops, Hipnotic (Independent)
The latest from Daria and the Hip Drops adds to their range while still keeping to varied, dancing grooves. Despite the… – David Kunian
Greg Schatz, Everything That You Wanted (Hot Spazz Records)
Somewhere downriver of Esplanade, there’s a tavern where the troubadours of the unbalanced hang out, drink, gamble, and tell tales. This… – David Kunian
Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Live At the Spotted Cat Music Club
How do you build a blues group around the inherently jolly sound of a washboard? Not an easy task, but Washboard… – Brett Milano
The Bridge Trio, The Search: Departure (Independent)
At this point in their blossoming careers, the individual members’ names—pianist/keyboardist Conun Pappas, bassist Max Moran and drummer Joe Dyson—are perhaps… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Rewind: Davis, The Once and Future DJ (Independent)
Davis Rogan hits REWIND to talk about his 2005 release The Once and Future DJ, which caught the attention of TV… – Paul Sanchez
Peter Novelli, St. Amant Sessions (Chalet Music)
Peter Novelli’s third album kicks off with a bang with guest Sonny Landreth’s signature slide guitar on “Louisiana Sunrise.” It’s a… – Dan Willging
Fawn Larson, The Sway (Independent)
It’s usually a good idea to steer clear of anyone whose Twitter actually declares them “Americana’s new darling,” but Fawn Larson… – Robert Fontenot
Dave Cappello & Jeff Albert, Duets 2014 (Breakfast for Dinner Records)
Most instances of percussion and horn duets make little music and a lot of noodling. Drummer/percussionist Dave Cappello and trombonist Jeff… – David Kunian
Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, Father’s Day (Stony Plain)
Although the veteran guitarist lives in New England and now rarely travels, he does have connections to New Orleans, as his… – Jeff Hannusch
Beth McKee, Sugarcane Revival (Independent)
Locals with long memories may recall Beth McKee’s first band, Evangeline, which recorded for Jimmy Buffett’s label in the early ’90s.… – Brett Milano
Voo Davis, Midnight Mist (Butter & Bacon Records)
What do you get when a 21st Century white boy makes the same exodus as those of his blues idols—leaving Alabama… – Robert Fontenot
GG Shinn, One Last Kiss (Sound of New Orleans)
In short, GG Shinn is the stuff legends are made of. He rose to prominence as a Boogie King with a… – Dan Willging
The Quickening, My Name Ain’t Skip (Independent)
It takes a supreme amount of confidence to name your new band after the worst sequel ever, but it turns out… – Robert Fontenot
Sun God Seven, Sun God Seven (Independent)
Sun God Seven is not your typical blues-rock band, and not just because lead singer Christiana sports a fedora, a boa,… – Robert Fontenot