Joe Krown is as qualified as anyone to record a tribute album to New Orleans keyboard: he’s lived and worked here long enough to feel the stuff in his bones; and his long-running organ trio with Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste was a model of taste and tastiness. He turns largely to piano for this set of mostly classic tunes, neither treating them too reverently nor rearranging them for the sake of it. The evident point is to get versions that the original artists might approve of, not to play exactly what they would have.

The Allen Toussaint-penned opener “All of It” is a case in point: the arrangement’s not a million miles away from Toussaint’s original, but notably grittier in its groove. Krown’s solo hints at some of Toussaint’s licks but takes them onto tangents of his own—and guitarist Leo Nocentelli, who plays on both versions, adds the cutting solo that he didn’t get to play first time around. The result is close to a newly-imagined Meters record. Another Toussaint tune, “With You in Mind,” features singer Noah Hunt (who like Krown is in Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s band) and is likewise bluesier than the familiar Aaron Neville version; ditto Dr. John’s “Such a Night” with Ivan Neville singing. “Classified” was one of James Booker’s signature numbers, but he only recorded it solo. So, when Krown solos in exuberant style on a band version, taking the kick from the rhythm section, it feels like a lost bit of history.

The Chuck Jackson song “Feel So Bad” with Washington is historic in itself: It was the singer/guitarist’s final studio recording, and it shows his ability to put a smile into the most lowdown of lyrics. Krown revs up the Hammond B-3 for the original “Ode to Mr. Davis,” where he duets with saxophonist Joe Sublett. I would guess the title refers to Quint because this piece captures the mood of strutting round the fairgrounds on opening day, feeling like king of the hill.