This past spring the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival returned for the first time in three years following cancelations due to the covid pandemic. The spirit of revival was in the air all over the Fair Grounds.

I was fortunate enough to see Ranky Tanky’s debut set at the fest and wrote about it in my recap saying, “…South Carolina-based Gullah musicians Ranky Tanky brought so much spirit it felt at times as if we were in jazz church. The band sang and played their hearts out much to the delight of the smallish crowd.”

Now a lot more listeners can experience their transcendent set on a new release, Ranky Tanky, Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz Festival which is nominated for a Grammy award,

Ranky Tanky’s roots in the Gullah community are deep, but the influences aren’t always overt. The band’s sound is a convergence of jazz virtuosity and gospel soul. The album’s opening cut “Freedom” starts with some fine guitar picking and a winding trumpet phrase. Until the startlingly vivid vocals come in, you could be in a jazz club.

I remembered some fine tambourine work from the set, so hearing it on this pristine recording, especially on the band’s call and response song, “Shoo Lie Loo,” reminded me of the exuberance of their set. The only problem is you can’t hear the crowd responding. But that’s a quibble because the energy is infectious.

The highlight of the set and of this recording is “Beat Em Down.” The chorus is as hopeful as any I have ever heard, and the crowd was eating out of the collective hands of this band. “Beat ’em down love, beat ’em down love, I’ll use my heart’s love to beat ’em down.” You can practically hear the optimism channeling through a simple trumpet solo.

While I don’t doubt the vibe and energy of Jazz Fest helped push this band to the heights they achieve on this recording, I also don’t doubt that they reach it every time they play.

Ranky Tanky, Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz Festival