While you may not be able to attend a gig in the Crescent City these days, the New Orleans High Society gives a sonic portrait of what you’re missing.
The band features Cleveland Donald with a singing voice that’s like a carney, and playing a swinging trombone, along with multi-reedist Davide Bode, Peter Gustafson/tb, Yacine Sebti/p-voc Stepen Bohnstengel/b, Trenton O’Neal/dr and guest Angie Z, who coos out a dreamy “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” with Sebti’s salooned piano. Sebti himself is a raconteur as he strides right for “On The Sunny Side of the St reet”, with Gustafson growling on the ‘bone like a hungry bear on “Creole Love Call” along with Bode on the licorice stick. The horns get hotcha on “That’s A Plenty” and join with the chorus for a gospel’s “Down By The River Side” while Donald leads the pack on a fun singalong and drum workout on “Lil’ Liza Jane”. Two drink minimum?