August 2018

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BackTalk

Tony Joe White talks back
Growing up in north Louisiana’s West Carroll Parish, Tony Joe White picked cotton on his dad’s farm and pokeweed in the… – John Wirt

Cover Story

Ashlin Parker brings in more and more (and more) trumpet players to join his Trumpet Mafia
"So we’re messing around with my worst nightmare—and that’s re-harmonizing trad tunes.” Ashlin Parker smiles, his demeanor as bright as the… – Jennifer Odell

Features

Through the Generations: Wendell Brunious and the “Brunious sound"
Trumpeter and vocalist Wendell Brunious boasts a towering musical family tree primarily flowered with trumpets. He is the son of trumpet… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Living the Tradition: Mark Braud’s musical family
“It’s all New Orleans and it is all a part of me,” says Mark Braud of the music heard on his… – Geraldine Wyckoff
300 Songs for 300 Years: An Armstrong Top 10
Louis Armstrong is the only artist in our 300 Songs countdown to get 10 songs to himself (five songs below and… – John Swenson
Forever Young: Irma Thomas’ Satchmo SummerFest debut
There comes a time in every Irma Thomas show when she calls for the audience to shout out requests. For some… – Brett Milano

Fresh

MY MUSIC: jazz pianist Oscar Rossignoli
“My dad grew up playing the bass—just amateur bands, nothing professional, but he has an ear for music. He knows what’s… – Raphael Helfand
Five Questions with hip-hop artist Hasheem Amin on his release The Reunion, featuring “The Streets Still Jumpin’”
First off, what does the title reference? My start in doing hip-hop was almost exclusively underground. Everybody was wanting to get… – Michael Allen Zell

In The Spirit

Scott Hicks at 21st Amendment
“I came here from Miami. I’m a Florida boy, born in New York, lived all over Florida. I’ve been in hospitality… – Elsa Hahne

Letters

Letters to the editor: Henry Butler, representation of women and more
Henry Butler’s Passing The passing of Henry Butler leads me to reflect on how many great artists we’ve lost in recent… – OffBeat Readers

Mojo Mouth

Mojo Mouth: Changing Venues [August 2018]
It’s awfully interesting to observe the changes that have occurred in the music scene since OffBeat opened its doors in 1988.… – Jan Ramsey

Obituaries

In Memoriam: Henry Butler (September 21, 1948 – July 2, 2018)
Henry Butler once described himself as “a work in progress,” as his aim was to continually challenge himself and the status… – Geraldine Wyckoff
In Memoriam: Stanley J. Lewis (1927 – 2018)
For nearly three decades Shreveport was known as “The Record Center of the South.” The man who was single-handedly responsible for… – Jeff Hannusch
In Memoriam: Theryl “Houseman” DeClouet (1951 – 2018)
Singer Theryl DeClouet, born in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, passed away on July 15 at age 66. Up until… – Joseph Irrera

OffBeat Eats

Café Abyssinia
It's common knowledge that anything marked with a neon highlighter deserves attention, and this is true for the low-slung building just… – Elsa Hahne
Chef Levi Raines on Bywater American Bistro's Brisket Sandwich
Chef Levi Raines on Bywater American Bistro's Brisket Sandwich Which of your dishes says the most about you? “I just… – Elsa Hahne

Dining Out

Café Abyssinia
It's common knowledge that anything marked with a neon highlighter deserves attention, and this is true for the low-slung building just… – Elsa Hahne

The Dish

Chef Levi Raines on Bywater American Bistro's Brisket Sandwich
Chef Levi Raines on Bywater American Bistro's Brisket Sandwich Which of your dishes says the most about you? “I just… – Elsa Hahne

Reviews

Josh Paxton, Standard Deviation (Independent)
With Josh Paxton’s third album, Standard Deviation, it’s past time to add another name to the list of outstanding pianists working… – John Swenson
Shawn Williams, Motel Livin’ (Independent)
In an interview with OffBeat’s Laura DeFazio, Shawn Williams refers to her music as “alt-rocka country-billy serial killer blues.” As far… – Raphael Helfand
Gregory Agid Quartet, Jamz (Bubble Bath)
The latest release from Gregory Agid is drenched in the warm and playful tone of Agid’s clarinet, and one cannot help… – Christopher Weddle
The Heavyweights Brass Band, This City (Independent)
The Heavyweights Brass Band wisely chose to record their third full-length record, This City, in New Orleans. Comprised of John Pittman… – Christopher Weddle
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames, This All I Know (Independent)
On his fifth CD, Leon Chavis achieves an artistic milestone with 11 originals reflecting deeper personal feelings and more openly honest… – Dan Willging
Super T Broussard & the Zydeco Steppers, Goin’ Live (Independent)
Some day when it’s all over, Chris Ardoin will be anointed a patron saint of zydeco since he’s helmed so many… – Dan Willging
Don Suhor, New Orleans Clarinet & Sax Virtuoso (GHB Records)
Don Suhor thoroughly embraced both traditional and modern jazz and often would infiltrate one of these kissin’ cousins within the other.… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Amadee Castenell, Live at Club 39 (Black Rose Records)
While you may not be familiar with his name, you are very likely to have heard Amadee Castenell’s sax playing on… – Christopher Weddle
Davy Mooney and Ko Omura, Benign Strangers (Sunnyside Records)
As the title of the album and opening cut, Benign Strangers, suggests, a certain musical and human gentleness prevails. Davy Mooney,… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Bunk Johnson, Rare & Unissued Masters: Volume Two 1943–1946 (American Music)
These recordings of New Orleans trumpet legend Bunk Johnson, who first gained a reputation in the period from 1905 to 1915,… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Water Seed, Say Yeah!! Live at the Blue Nile (Louisiana Red Hot Records)
Water Seed has it all going for them. They’re fun, funky, talented musicians who know how to make people dance. They’ve… – Stacey Leigh Bridewell