The late Dr. John’s last will and testament is released here, with the album a rich summary of everything that needs to be remembered about the legendary pianist. His voice and touch on the piano are both well weathered and leathered, which always occurs to masters of their craft, embodying their musical style at the tail end of their careers, instead of just displaying it.
He sticks to his roots here, relaxed doing Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away” and teams up with the composer on the folksy take of the spiritual “Gimme That Old Time Religion”. His piano slinks into a southern drawl on Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and brings his lazy bones to “Guess Things Happen That Way”. The band, which includes Shane Theriot/g, Will Lee/b, Carlo Nuccio/dr, Jon Cleary/B3, David Torkanowsky/wp, is able o create a swampy stew with some extra horns on “Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone” while there’s a nice rural stomp to “Holy Water” and a chicka boom to the rural “Give Myself A Good Talkin’ To”. The red clay’d graceful exit of Mac Rebennack.