The High Standards released their self-titled debut in May 2022 consisting of New Orleans jazz standards and popular parlor songs. Much like expert artisans, the band and producers created a high-fidelity recording without losing the antique quality of the original. It stands as a testament to the timelessness of many classics of the early 1900s.

“Louisiana Fairytale,” popularized by Fats Waller, opens the album with a clarinet lead melody and chopping chords.

All the performances here are excellent. Many of the covers take an upbeat twist on the originals, but don’t let the melodies fool you, there’s plenty of blues, yearning and heartache going around.

The High Standards bring a collection of songs that represent the era well, but feel like an outsider’s perspective on what New Orleans music should be. It’s what a tourist would expect to hear when visiting the great city in the South.

In late October, the band also released a four-track EP, My Josephine, aiming to capture “the depths of a sweltering New Orleans summer.” Like their self-titled debut, the title track “My Josephine” was originally recorded by New Orleans’ cornetist Papa Celestin. The band recreates the song with a modern composition while maintaining its vintage charm. The clarinet stands front and center, replacing the original’s cornet elegantly with a clean sound ringing more tenor than alto. As if recorded from a distance, the drums possess a fuzzy warmth to them like old vinyl. “My Josephine” sums up how both records recapture ancient magic.

The High Standards live up to their name, treating each track like an artifact in a museum while simultaneously bringing them to life for a new day.