The rich gumbo of sounds from New Orleans is still alive and well on these recent releases.
Playing piano, Hammond, guitar and banjo, Kirk Nelson teams up with drummer Mitch Montrose as well with a rotating system of bassists and guitarist along with Dan Weinstein/tp-tub-ct, Tom Cunningham-Steve Crum/tp and Jeff Dellistante/bars-cl for a collection of fun and festive sounds from New Orleans. The album has a Dr. John feel, with similar vocals on a fun “I’m Beginning To See The Light” and soulful “Bounce Around”. There’s a lot of relaxed sass to “ Basin Street Blues” and funky blues for “Swingin’ So Low” and “Only 12 Bars In A Day” with the horns having a fun time on “Tamale Man”. Bon mots.
Trumpeter Etienne Charles has a gorgeously sweet tone, and uses it well in this big band collection that features vocalist Rene Marie. Marie belts it out with drummer Obed Calvaire on “I Wanna Be Evil” and slinks with pianist Sullivan Fortner during a salubrious “Centerpiece”. Charles is crystal clear on the peppy and Latin lover of “Old School” while Brandon Rose adds some rap to the funky “Poison”. The saxes chug away on “Night Train” and the sections bounce for “Stompin’ At The Savoy”. Bon ton Roulet!