The New Orleans Jazz Vipers were at the vanguard of the Frenchmen-centric traditional jazz resurgence that took hold just after Katrina, and, a decade later, their work still represents some of the genre’s finest. (They’ve split into the current Vipers, led by saxophonist/lead vocalist Joe Braun, and the Cottonmouth Kings, and both groups are mainstays in the swing dancing scene).

Sprightly, colorful, and full of revitalized classics, their most recent release was one of the top-selling albums at Jazz Fest this year. In addition to Braun, it features Craig Klein on trombone, Kevin Louis on trumpet/cornet, Oliver Bonie on bari sax/clarinet, Molly Reeves on guitar, and Joshua Gouzy on upright bass.

Various members sing throughout the album. Braun’s delightful, upbeat growl that sounds like a voiced version of his snarly sax solos, and Reeve’s clear, elegant voice is an unexpected but excellent choice for the bawdy Fats Waller tune “All That Meat and No Potatoes.” As a special lagniappe, Irma Thomas is featured on “I Hope You’re Comin’ Back To New Orleans.”

One of the most interesting things about this “traditional” group is they don’t have a drummer, so Gouzy and Reeves are front and center.

The string-driven rhythmic propulsion lends the band a unique sound, a kaleidoscopic cascade of instruments that doesn’t lose any richness for not having percussion.