The Rumble, led by Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles and the son of Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, gets off to a rousing start on Live at the Maple Leaf. Even the sophisticated piano solo and introduction of the chief is an inspired curiosity making one wonder what might happen next. The question is soon answered—Mardi Gras Indians meet brass, funk and jazz— musical allies that have long shared membership in the streets, rhythms and progressive attitude.

The traditional call and response of the Black Indians remains on “Up Until the Morning,” while the horn section jumps in and the organ of Andriu Yanovski goes, well, wild. Trombonist Jose Maize then takes over with drummer Trenton O’Neal laying down the beats. Immediately it’s realized that the musicians in The Rumble aren’t foolin’ around.

All but one of the selections on the album comes from the pens of its members, primarily from Boudreaux, Yanovski, trumpeter Aurelien Barnes and guitarist Ari Teitel. The exception is the late Willie Tee Turbinton‘s “New Suit,” a tune recorded on Big Chief Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias debut album that is considered having pioneered bringing instrumentation into the Black Indian tradition. It stands here as a fine tribute to Bo Dollis and Turbinton.

It’s almost amusing—though not surprising—how Uptown-centric many of the songs on the album are. And not just a Black masking Indian thing. “Uptown” definitely boasts a Neville Brothers vibe particularly with the background vocal harmonies and bass lick. Guest saxophonist Amari Ansari inventively includes a reference to the Neville’s/Meters’classic “Hey Pocky Way” while he takes it out.

Quality musicianship and the truly New Orleans melding of styles including a somewhat surprising amount of sophistication and modernism makes Live at the Maple Leaf work.