This weekend Al “Carnival Time” Johnson celebrates the release of his first CD since…well, forever: Though he’s responsible for one of the city’s favorite Mardi Gras anthems, Johnson had never recorded a full disc before. In fact he’s made precious few recordings over a 50-year career; he’s re-cut “Carnival Time” on a few occasions (most recently with Galactic), but hadn’t added many songs to his discography. But he recently teamed up with Rabadash Records mainman and keyboardist John Autin, who’s backed him up at some recent shows. Last weekend at French Quarter Festival, Johnson and the band did a mix of new tunes and local classics, including the late Oliver Morgan’s hit “Who Shot the La La”. Also featured was the post-Katrina single “Lower Ninth Ward Blues” which is also on the album; and a couple of Mardi Gras grooves in the “Carnival Time” vein. The 73-year-old Johnson was in strong voice and also played keyboards, something he seldom gets to do when making one- or two-song appearances at Jazz Fest or Ponderosa Stomp.
The album will be celebrated with three weekends’ worth of release gigs, starting Friday night at the Howlin’ Wolf with fellow Rabadash artists Big Al Carson, 15-year-old Lindsay Mendez, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Omari Neville. The following weekend on Saturday, April 27th he’ll play the Maple Leaf on a double bill with the New Orleans Suspects. Finally he’ll play the Old US Mint, again with the Rabadash crew, at 7pm on Thursday, May 2.
[Big Al Carson and guests, at 7pm Friday, April 19 at the Howlin’ Wolf, 907 S Peters St. Tickets $15].
