It’s no crime to be highly respectful on a tribute album; that’s what they’re for. This salute to Dr. John, and to New Orleans R&B as a whole, was put together by Long Island-based pianist Jack Licitra and his crew, all of whom are well-steeped in the tradition (they’ve even subtitled the album as an “American Roots Project”). They don’t embarrass themselves a bit, but they also hold back on giving the music much of a personal spin.

The opening title track is the best, a bouncy tune that brims with love for the man and his music (in this case it’s Dr. John in old-school R&B mode). Mac gets another namecheck in the next tune, “Piano Players Heaven,” which offers the sweet but sentimentalized vision of New Orleans’ keyboard greats jamming in paradise. But it does get a welcome touch of raunch from guest singer Maria Muldaur. “Shakedown” has a more interesting angle, taking off from the story of New Orleans DA Harry Connick keeping James Booker out of jail to give his son piano lessons. He does shortchange “How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come Around” (the Cousin Joe song that Dr. John famously covered), by leaving out the song’s second half, where the singer threatens to slice up everyone including the dog. It’s highly incorrect and not at all nice; Dr. John was one of the few who could bring it off with humor. But if Licitra didn’t want to go there, why not just pick one of the hundreds of other good songs in the Dr. John repertoire?

The other songs aside from the Nevilles’ “Brother John” are originals, and he manages to get in the requisite lyrical references (crawfish, alligators, Tipitina’s) and musical ones (bits of Earl King here, “Carnival Time” there, plus an Indian-styled tune). Works fine for anyone who needs a crash course in New Orleans R&B, but around these parts he may be preaching to the converted.