The Saints and Sinners of Jackson Square, the highly amusing name for this album and this group of well-known musicians, was recorded live at the Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Florida and produced in association with the Treme Artists Collective. Every song on the disc, from the opening hymn “Lord, Lord, Lord” to the closing number “When the Saints Go Marching In” is familiar to most New Orleanians and devotees of this city’s classic jazz music. How many times have locals and tourists alike stopped to enjoy the blowing and accompanying antics of Mark “Tuba” Smith or bass drummer Malcolm Morris in front of the St. Louis Cathedral?

While folks here love the guys and the traditional jazz that they’ve helped keep alive, it’s easy to hear from the audience’s reaction that the joy of these tunes as performed by these real-deal artists’ hits them, as it should, in the heart and soul.

A few choice cuts include “Stackman’s Caldonia,” that is a medley of sorts that starts off in a traditional mode and moves to rhythm and blues favorites “Flip, Flop and Fly” and “Caldonia.” As is his way, saxophonist Elliot “Stackman” Collier jokes around much to the crowd’s delight. Trumpeter Kenneth Terry also shows how he likes to mix things up on his take on Professor Longhair’s “Going to the Mardi Gras,” as he throws in some improvised scatting.

The true beauty of the album is the overall presence of Rickey Paulin, who often wowed listeners on the Square and sadly passed away on February 10, 2019. His wonderful clarinet remains up front on so many of these selections that his fans around the world will want to warmly embrace The Saints and Sinners of Jackson Square.