Home of the Groove's "In Pursuit of Bo-Consciousness"
Edwin J. Bocage, a/k/a Spider Bocage, Little Bo, and best known as Eddie Bo, a fascinating, often enigmatic figure on the New Orleans music scene for over half a century, passed away just over a week ago. During his career, he wore many musical hats (including turbans): pianist/organist, vocalist, bandleader, composer (over 200 songs), arranger and producer. His work appeared on a huge assortment of labels, including a few of his own.
By the time of his passing, while certainly not rich and famous, he was still a popular local performer and had a small but loyal following around the country and abroad. I guess you could say that he achieved an underground legendary status, revered by other musicians, record collectors, and serious New Orleans music fans alike - the Bo-cognoscenti, so to speak.
Wednesday at the Square - Soul Rebels, Bucktown Allstars
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event which showcases the finest in local music and art. We, along with a few thousand other spectators, in spite of the ominous clouds looming overhead, sought out the sounds of the Soul Rebels Brass Band and the Bucktown Allstars. The Soul Rebels, whose weekly all-night marathons at Le Bon Temps are a staple of the New Orleans music scene, opend the show with a set of tight grooves, fiery brass, and smoldering soul. The Bucktown Allstars, one of the Big Easy’s foremost party bands, closed out the event with a set of classic New Orleans anthems and goodtime jams. If yesterday was any indication of what’s to come, this weekly gathering is a must for anyone in and around the Crescent City. Go ahead, lie to your boss, duck of work early. You won't regret it.Live Review- Will Bernard Band @ Highline Ballroom
I went to see Will Bernard and his insanely funky bandmates at the Highline Ballroom on Thursday. Simply put, it was hot shit! I wrote about Bernard's excellent new record, "Blue Plate Special," back in September. Here's what I said:
Kermit Ruffins: Jazz Fest/Album
Basin Street Records, April 28
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Make no mistake, everything about Kermit Ruffins exemplifies New Orleans. Residing in the town of Treme´, former home of his predecessors Louis Prima and Louis Armstrong, he continues the big brass tradition the town is known for - Kermit plays a "sweet, sweet horn", as Michael J. Agovino of Newsweek notes. His musical stylings resemble the culture of New Orleans, a melting pot, with Jazz, funk, standards and hip-hop. His charisma, both onstage and on his recordings, reflects the spirit of his city.
New NO Mixtape
Jealous Monk’s Jermaine Quiz has a new mixtape online for download here. There’s a lot going on here and the source materials are pretty high profile, but it’s nice to hear the Meters/Nevilles and Lil’ Wayne meeting on equal footing in modern NO funk recordings.
On his new CD, pianist Tom McDermott is most effective when his fingers do the talking
As one of the Crescent City's most fluent practitioners of the piano arts, Tom McDermott (hear selected tracks
"New Orleans Duets," McDermott's first release for Rabadash Records, pairs his piano with 21 singers and instrumentalists on tracks recorded across five years. The result is a decidedly mixed bag of tricks.) is on solid ground whenever he traverses the black and white keys.
CD Review: Wynton Marsalis, He and She
As the most familiar brand name in jazz, Wynton Marsalis has carte blanche to put together any project he chooses.
So it’s no surprise to hear Marsalis apply his pen and his horn — still a thing of beauty, whether holding long tones, ripping through 32nd-note passages, or altered with a mute — to a set of mostly post-bop jazz intermingled with his playful spoken-word passages on the nature of young love.
Fats Domino tribute concert to feature Chuck Berry, Little Richard and more
Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ozomatli, Keb' Mo', Junior Brown and Taj Mahal are scheduled to perform at "The Domino Effect," a May 30 concert in honor of Fats Domino at the New Orleans Arena.
Promoters hope that Domino at least makes an "appearance" at the show, but don't necessarily expect him to perform. Even an appearance would be something of a coup, as the increasingly reclusive Domino declined to even attend a recent birthday party in his honor at Tipitina's.
Next Generation looks for its next gig
Carrying on in the tradition of legendary educator, arranger, producer and jazz saxophonist Harold Battiste, pianist Jesse McBride coordinates his Next Generation ensemble as a real world classroom for young jazz musicians. McBride stocks the Next Generation with a revolving cast of promising young players in their teens; when they go off to college, he recruits fresh faces.
Since early 2007, Jesse McBride and the Next Generation have performed most Tuesday nights at Snug Harbor. But that residency ends in April. McBride understands why Snug Harbor decided to make a change. "I can't say that we packed the house," he said. "If we did, they wouldn't have let us go
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