Elly Roberts reviews
Various: Putumayo presents New Orleans
Distributed by
Putumayo World Music
- Released: February 2005
- Rating: 8/10
- Cat.no.: PUT 232-2
Flavour some of the Mardi Gras celebrations with this Putumayo World Music’s release of jazz, blues and swing - New Orleans style.
With only two household names to boast - Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima, this
eleven tracker still manages to bring out the best of the genre.
Current and past crème de la crème come out to play, giving a ‘tableaux’ snapshot
of the lively interpretations. Bursting with quality musicianship and singing,
the mood of the Mardi Gras is brought straight into your living room (or wherever
you like to play it).
After an energetic start by local favourite Kermit Ruffins (who also get a
simultaneous CD release), he lives up to his reputation as the hottest new
talent in New Orleans. The sweltering heat and atmosphere continues throughout
the disc, with sublime contributions from Armstrong on Tin Roof Blues
(recorded 1966), as he growls and snarls his way through the plodding and charming
standard.
Louis Prima, another legend, shows some fine smokey vocals on Basin Street Blues,
a song about the notorious red-light district of the city. Virtuoso singer Topsy
Chapman adds her sharp and deft vocal discipline on the cool and infectious Baby
Won’t You Please Come Home.
Despite being on the scene for many years, Chapman is a star waiting to be
discovered. Stellar trumpeter Kevin Clark is mesmerising on The Devil Done
Got Me Blues, as is Dr. Michael White’s fluid clarinet work on Gypsy
Second Line.
Dr John, one of the giants of the city, throws in his version of Basin Street
Blues in his inimitable and unique style.
Overall, the collection hits all the right notes,as it spreads the playlist to
cover both new and old forms of Jazz.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
