That lucky Smoky Greenwell. The dude works across the street from his French Quarter residence and hosts a popular Monday night blues jam at BMC around the corner.
In between is the regal-looking Old U.S. Mint, the site of his first live album.
This CD-DVD package, done in conjunction with the Mint and the National Parks Service, is a distilled version of his Monday night jams since it would be impractical to showcase the entire jam with all of its ups and downs. This one’s all up, however. Greenwell and his veteran ensemble open the show, of course, grooving through a few familiar originals.
While he’s an impressive, quasi jazz-like saxman (“Peter Gunn”), Greenwell’s truly the harmonica master (his mainstay instrument), cutting and juking with superior tone and technique. He never quite goes over the top but stays in the pocket ripping out good stuff.
Bourbon Street warrior/guitarist Mark Penton rolls with two of his own as does Ranger Sunpie, in full National Parks regalia, on piano note accordion. Though it’s a collaborative affair with plenty of soloing and vocal support, the spirit of the jam is best felt starting with Sunpie’s “Love’s Gone” where the feeling becomes overwhelmingly loose and uninhibited.
That inspiration continues through his “Leroy’s Shuffle” and Greenwell’s torrid closer “Back to the Boogie.”
Overall, a good show with clear sound and decent video that should appeal to blues and swing dancers, besides sedentary listeners.
