Blues
Playing in front of an invited studio audience, Dr. John is featured with a full-scale jazz ensemble on this 1991 session Funky New Orleans. Alto saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. is the leader of the date, which allows Dr. John to concentrate not only on piano and vocals but also his guitar playing. A hand full of Mac Rebennack and Harrison originals are mixed with the dirty blues of "Shave em Dry" and a nod to Professor Longhair and Earl King on "Big Chief." Also, two instrumental straight-ahead jazz pieces are explored on "Hu-Ta-Nay" and "Walkin Home." This really isn't a Dr. John recording as much as an honest portrayal of these (mainly) New Orleans musicians in an extremely loose and funky setting. Recommended and available on the budget Metro label.
By Al Campbell.
**
Dr. John is in rare form on this live disc, recorded with the Donald Harrison Band at NYC's legendary Birdland. Some of these songs are straight-forward blues numbers, while others are Mardi Gras chants given a jazz workout. Taking a break from the piano bench, the good Doctor plays guitar and growls out voodoo mumbo-jumbo while the rhythm section keeps the pulse pounding. This is easily Dr. John's best album since "Goin' Back to New Orleans" (and that's saying something, since he's released 4 or 5 good records since then). Outstanding tracks include the gambler's tale, "Shave 'Em Dry," and "Jac-A-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay," which takes a phrase from his classic "Iko Iko" and reworks it into a whole new song. This album is a stellar combination of deep, swampy funk and tight jazz ensemble playing. And you can't go wrong with an album that contains the following lyric: "I'm only 38 / My woman's 93 / My friends all think I'm crazy / But the will's made out to me!" Highly recommended.
By Martin S.
**
01. Hu-Ta-Nay (Donald Harrison) 6:18
02. Big Chief (Earl Gaines/Querzergue) 5:17
03. Shave'em Dry (Landry) 5:21
04. Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay (Donald Harrison) 6:54
05. Mamzelle Zizi (Mac Rebennack) 5:44
06. Livin' On Borrowed Time (Mac Rebennack) 9:19
07. You Ain't So Such A Much (Mac Rebennack) 6:36
08. Hu-Ta-Nay (Donald Harrison) 9:16
09. Walkin' Home (Donald Harrison, Jr./Mac Rebennack) 2:23
**
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