New Orleans - World Music Network

MUSICROUGHGUIDES
THE ROUGH GUIDE to the music of
New Orleans
Ask any inhabitant of New Orleans, Louisiana
and they will tell you that they are part of the
‘New Orleans Nation’ – a country in its own
right. It’s a strong argument, and an anecdote
that captures the independent and uniquely
creative vibe of the great city so well.
Historically New Orleans was a major port, a
circumstance largely responsible for creating
the vibrant multi-cultural society the city
boasts. Consider Afro-American, Latino,
European Creole and Cajun influences, and
then add in the sounds of Mardis Gras Indian
music, and you start to get the picture that
this city is quite simply like no other.
During the sixteenth century Africans, both
slaves and free, and American Indians shared
their cultures and amalgamated them with
that of the European settlers. The emergent
Creole culture was actively encouraged by the
then French government, and it is this durable
multi-faceted culture that distinguishes New
Orleans from anywhere else in the world.
This melting pot of cultures influenced the
development of the city in every sphere;
art, literature, food, architecture, language,
fashion and of course music. The very diversity
of the city can prove quite disorientating for a
visitor to New Orleans. To try to unpick exactly
the deeply intricate context attached to every
cultural expression is an arduous task, it is
much more beneficial (and fun) to simply
embrace each rich musical gumbo in all its
complicated glory.
Music is everywhere in New Orleans; it’s the
lifeblood of the city and of the people. It pulses
throughout the vibrant French Quarter (the
heart of the city) during the day, and at night
can be heard being performed by amazing
street performers or wafting out of the many
venues, bars and clubs dotted all over the
city. Walk round any corner and you can come
across a honking brass band, a melancholy
blues guitarist, a percussionist playing an
upturned plastic bin, energetic street dancers
or thoughtful folk singers.
Check out the bars like DBA’s, The Spotted Cat,
The Blue Nile or Snug Harbour on Frenchman
Street, to see incredible live music in intimate
venues on any night of the week. For the real
taste of the hidden local New Orleans scene,
search out the Candlelight Lounge on a
Wednesday night where the Treme Brass Band
play a weekly residency, or Vaughan’s where
you can catch Kermit Ruffins every Thursday
with a free barbecue. A visit to Tipitina’s is a
must, I love this venue and it is well worth the
trip even though it is slightly off the beaten
track. Likewise Howlin’ Wolf’s, with the fairly
recent addition of an annexe called The Den,
is a great venue showcasing many national
and international artists. The other must visit
is The Maple Leaf Bar situated next to my
favourite restaurant Jacques-Imo’s, possibly
the best night out with guaranteed great food,
drink, music and dancing. There you can catch
great bands such as Papa Grows Funk at
regular weekly sessions. Residencies are an
important part of the live music programme
in New Orleans and can make the decisions
of what you are going to see a lot easier, given
the incredible choice you will face.
So let’s get to the compilation you are
listening to, The Rough Guide to New
Orleans. Compiling the album was indeed a
nearly impossible task, but I have personally
selected sixteen tracks that I think showcase
well the history, diversity and uniqueness of
the New Orleans contemporary scene. The
music fuses jazz, Latin, soul, funk, hip-hop,
Mardi Gras Indians and brass bands.
Kicking off with some rhythm ’n’ blues and
funk, it just doesn’t get any better than Jessie
Hill, The Meters and Earl King backed by
The Meters, (what would the musical world
be like if it wasn’t for The Meters?). Then we
move straight on to the music of the Mardi
Gras Indians. Mardi Gras is one of the most
important and internationally recognised
festivals in New Orleans, a city that has a
festival for just about everything – even the
tomato! Also heard on this Rough Guide is Big
Chief Monk Boudreaux, a New Orleans legend
who is still keeping the tradition alive with his
inspiring performances, as are brother duo,
James & Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews.
Brass bands and second line (a tradition
in brass band parades in New Orleans) are
represented by Kermit Ruffins, Papa Grows
Funk, New Orleans Nightcrawlers and the
Hot 8 Brass Band, who all deliver music sure
put you in the party mood. Two of my absolute
favourite contemporary artists follow with
the incredibly funky band Dumpstaphunk,
and Jon Cleary who was born in England but
bred in New Orleans. A Latino influence is
represented by the incredible Los Hombres
Calientes. In a city teeming with incredible
pianists, this compilation features two of the
most influential, Professor Longhair and Dr
John. The album finishes off with a track by
clarinettist Dr Michael White, a man whose
whole life is dedicated to keeping the jazz
tradition alive and well.
Hopefully this selection will have you hungry
for more and inspire you to really get into some
of the incredible artists that have come from
New Orleans, and have influenced the whole
world. So let me name check just a few you
should investigate further; Louis Armstrong,
Kid Ory, Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton,
King Oliver, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino,
Louis Prima, Huey ‘Piano’ Smith, Snooks
Eaglin, Lonnie Johnson, Irma Thomas, The
Preservation Hall Jazz Band, James Booker,
The Wild Magnolias, The Neville Brothers, The
Marsalis Family, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and
the ReBirth Brass Band, - and that is just the
tip of the iceberg!
New Orleans is one unique city with a rich
heritage and a population that loves music,
and are some of the happiest people I have
ever had the pleasure of encountering. If you
enjoy this compilation, make sure to visit New
Orleans yourself and, as they say ‘laissez le
bon temps rouler!’ (let the good times roll)!
Questionnez tout habitant de la NouvelleOrléans, en Louisiane, et il vous dira qu’il fait
partie de la New Orleans Nation (la «nation de
la Nouvelle Orleans») - un pays de plein droit.
La déclaration est forte et l’anecdote capte
bien la vibration autonome et singulièrement
créative de la grande ville.
nourriture, architecture, langue, mode et, bien
sûr, musique. La diversité même de la ville
peut s’avérer très déroutante pour le visiteur.
Tenter de démêler les fils profondément
complexes de chaque expression culturelle
est une tâche ardue, il est beaucoup plus
avantageux (et plus amusant) de saisir chaque
gombo musical dans sa glorieuse richesse et
complexité.
Historiquement, la Nouvelle-Orléans était un
port important, une situation qui explique
largement
la
société
multiculturelle
dynamique qui s’est formée dans la ville.
Prenez des influences afro-américaines,
latinos, créoles européennes et cajuns,
ajoutez des sons de la musique des Indiens
du Mardi Gras, et vous commencerez à
comprendre pourquoi cette ville ne ressemble
à aucune autre.
La musique est partout à la Nouvelle Orléans
- c’est l’élément vital de la ville et du peuple.
Durant la journée, elle imprègne le quartier
français (le centre, très animé, de la ville); la
nuit, on peut l’entendre jouée par des artistes
de rue étonnants ou flotter dans les nombreux
lieux, bars et clubs qui parsèment la ville. A
tout moment de votre promenade, vous pouvez
rencontrer une vibrante fanfare, un guitariste
de blues mélancolique, un percussionniste
s’acharnant sur un bac en plastique renversé,
des danseurs de rue énergétiques ou des
chanteurs de folk délicats.
Dès le XVIème siècle, les Africains (esclaves et
hommes libres) et les Indiens d’Amérique ont
partagé leurs cultures et les ont fusionnées
avec celle des colons européens à la NouvelleOrléans. La culture créole émergente a été
activement encouragée par le gouvernement
français de l’époque, et distingue aujourd’hui
la Nouvelle-Orléans, par son caractère
durable et protéiforme. Ce melting-pot de
cultures a influencé le développement de la
ville dans tous les domaines: art, littérature,
Entrez dans les bars - comme DBA, The
Spotted Cat, The Blue Nile ou Snug Harbour
sur Frenchman Street - pour goûter tous
les soirs une musique live incroyable. Pour
tester la scène locale cachée de la NouvelleOrléans, allez du côté du Candlelight Lounge,
un mercredi soir: le Treme Brass Band y
joue en résidence. Ou bien, rendez vous au
Vaughan, où vous pouvez entendre Kermit
Ruffins tous les jeudis, autour d’un barbecue
gratuit. Une visite au Tipitina est un must:
j’aime ce lieu et il vaut bien le voyage, même
s’il est un peu hors des sentiers battus. De
même, Howlin ‘Wolf, avec l’ajout relativement
récent d’une annexe (The Den), est un endroit
idéal pour écouter de nombreux artistes
nationaux et internationaux. L’autre must
à visiter est le Maple Leaf Bar, situé à côté
de mon restaurant préféré, Jacques-Imo vous y passerez peut-être votre meilleure
soirée, avec nourriture, boissons, musique
et danse de qualité garanties. Là, vous
pourrez entendre de grands groupes, tels
que Papa Grows Funk, une fois par semaine.
Les résidences sont une part importante de
la musique live à la Nouvelle Orléans; elles
peuvent vous aidez à choisir votre soirée,
étant donné le choix incroyable existant.
Passons maintenant à la compilation que
vous écoutez, Le Rough Guide to New Orleans.
Confronté à la tâche presqu’impossible de
compiler cet album, j’ai personnellement
choisi seize pistes dont j’estime qu’elles
présentent bien l’histoire, la diversité et
l’unicité de la scène contemporaine de la
Nouvelle-Orléans. La musique opère la fusion
du jazz, de la musique latine, de la soul, du
funk, du hip-hop, des Indiens du Mardi Gras
et des fanfares.
Le coup d’envoi est donné avec quelques
morceaux de rhythm and blues et de funk:
rien de moins que Jessie Hill, The Meters
et Earl King soutenus par The Meters (que
serait le monde musical sans eux?). Ensuite,
nous passons directement à la musique des
Indiens du Mardi Gras, l’un des festivals de la
Nouvelle-Orléans les plus importants et les
plus reconnus internationalement, même si la
ville s’enorgueillit d’organiser des fêtes pour à
peu près tout - et même la tomate! Outre le duo
des frères James et Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’
Andrews, ce Rough Guide fait également
entendre Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, une
légende de la Nouvelle-Orléans dont les
performances inspirées font vivre la tradition
du jazz. Les fanfares et les deuxièmes lignes
(une tradition dans les défilés à la Nouvelle
Orléans) sont représentées par Kermit
Ruffins, Papa Grows Funk, New Nightcrawlers
Orléans et le Hot 8 Brass Band - leur musique
saura vous transporter dans une ambiance de
fête. Suivent deux de mes favoris absolus: le
groupe funky Dumpstaphunk et Jon Cleary,
né en Angleterre mais élevé à la NouvelleOrléans. L’influence latino est représentée
par l’incroyable Los Hombres Calientes.
La compilation retient deux pianistes
incroyables, parmi les plus influents dans une
ville qui en regorge- Professor Longhair et
Dr John. Elle s’achève avec le clarinettiste Dr
Michael White, un homme qui a consacré sa
vie à faire vivre le jazz.
Espérons que cette sélection vous aura donné
envie d’en entendre davantage et de découvrir
quelques-uns des artistes incroyables issus
de la Nouvelle-Orléans et qui ont influencé
le monde entier. Citons, parmi tant d’autres:
Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Sidney Bechet, Jelly
Kermit Ruffins
Roll Morton, King Oliver, Dave Bartholomew,
Fats Domino, Louis Prima, Huey ‘Piano’
Smith, Snooks Eaglin, Lonnie Johnson, Irma
Thomas, le Preservation Hall Jazz Band,
James Booker, les Wild Magnolias, les Neville
Brothers, la famille Marsalis, Dirty Dozen
Brass Band et le Rebirth Brass Band ... Et ce
n’est là que la partie émergée de l’iceberg!
La Nouvelle-Orléans est une ville unique,
dotée d’un riche patrimoine. Ses habitants
aiment la musique et ils sont parmi les gens
les plus heureux que j’ai eu le plaisir de
rencontrer. Si vous aimez cette compilation,
prenez tout de suite un billet pour la NouvelleOrléans, comme on dit là-bas: «laissez le bon
temps rouler!».
JESSIE HILL - Jessie Hill was originally a
drummer before going on to be a successful
R&B and blues singer. He wrote the lyrics and
the melody for this infectious party anthem
that gets you singing along from the start. It
was initially a struggle to get it released, and
was finally recorded in 1960 at the legendary
Cosimo Matassa’s studio and produced by
Allen Toussaint. It became a Mardi Gras
favourite selling close to a million copies and
reaching the top five in the US Billboard R & B
chart, and the top thirty on the Billboard 100
pop chart. Jessie is the grandfather of James
and Troy Andrews who continue to perform
this great song to this day.
THE METERS – There is really nothing left to
say about The Meters, arguably the greatest
funk band of all time. The ensemble is made
up of four incredibly musical individuals;
Zigaboo Modeliste on drums, George Porter
Jr on bass, Leo Nocentelli on guitar and Art
Neville on the organ. The group have had an
influence on everybody, from Allen Toussaint
to Dr John, Paul McCartney and the Rolling
Stones. The track ‘Look-ka Py Py’ is a New
Orleans funk classic.
EARL KING –Earl Silas Johnson IV started out
as a gospel singer, then changed his name to
Earl King, and switched to the guitar and the
blues in order to further his career. Influenced
heavily by Guitar Slim (he actually deputized
for his hero on one tour), he was the composer
of ‘Come On’, a track later made famous by
Jimi Hendrix. The track here was recorded for
his comeback in 1972 with none other than
The Meters as a backing band.
BIG CHIEF MONK BOUDREAUX – Joseph
Pierre Boudreaux is one of the most famous
and endearing leaders of a culture that is
relatively unknown outside of New Orleans:
he is the Big Chief of the Mardi Gras Indian
tribe ‘The Golden Eagles’. Boudreaux is widely
known for his long time collaboration with
Big Chief Bo Dollis and The Wild Magnolias,
whose 1974 self title album is an undisputed
classic. Boudreaux is now in his seventies
and is still performing with as much energy
and passion as ever. This track is from his
latest album Won’t Bow Down (2011), a great
record that showcases his eclectic influences,
including everything from traditional chants
to Jimi Hendrix.
JAMES & TROY ANDREWS – ‘Zulu King’ is
taken from the album 12 & Shorty, the title
of which reflects each brother’s nickname;
trumpeter James is affectionately known
as ‘12’ and Troy as ‘Trombone Shorty’. This
track has stuck with me ever since I first
heard it being played in the Louisiana Music
Factory record shop in the French Quarter,
and it has been a staple of my DJ sets ever
since. Trombone Shorty has since gone on
to become a world famous and Grammy
nominated star, whose global touring helps to
get the New Orleans message out to millions
of people, whilst James Andrews has released
a fantastic album, The Big Time Stuff and has
earned himself a new moniker, ‘Satchmo of
the Ghetto’.
KERMIT RUFFINS – ‘Treme Mardi Gras’
perfectly sums up life in the Treme
neighbourhood in one song. Kermit Ruffins
is the embodiment of the Treme and New
Orleans. He is a talented trumpet player,
singer and entertainer (his words), a founding
member of the ReBirth Brass band, a bar
owner and a barbecuing expert. This song
is taken from the album Livin’ a Treme Life,
which features Kermit lovingly eulogising
about his life and experiences in the Treme.
In the hugely popular HBO TV series Treme,
Kermit plays himself as nobody else could.
PAPA GROWS FUNK – Led by the incredibly
funky and genial keyboard player John Gross,
Papa Grows Funk are a band that take no
prisoners whenever and wherever they play.
‘F.U. N.K.Y, funky till the day I die’ could easily
be their motto. This track is from their 2003
album Shakin’, and is an attention-grabbing
mix of second line rhythms, infectious horn
riffs and their irrepressible funky attitude.
NEW ORLEANS NIGHTCRAWLERS – In a city
renowned for brass bands it is very difficult
to get noticed unless you make a genuinely
innovative album. One band that succeeded
in fulfilling the brief are the New Orleans
Nightcrawlers, whose 2009 album Slither
Slice is truly unique. The track ‘Hold ‘em Joe’
is based on a popular Indian chant. They are
a top-notch outfit that really understand the
funky street rhythms of New Orleans and
bring it home every time.
HOT 8 BRASS BAND – The Hot 8 Brass Band
are another band that are transmitting the
New Orleans vibe out to a younger audience.
Catch them live to hear them rip it up with
a mixture of original songs and classic soul
covers. This is the shorter re-edit of their
cover of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’.
DUMPSTAPHUNK – Dumpstaphunk’s mission
statement is to make people dance whilst
delivering top quality deep funk grooves.
Collectively they have played with The Neville
Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Etta James,
John Mayer, Angie Stone, Galactic and Harry
Connick Jr. As a band they have an almost
telepathic musical togetherness making
them one of the tightest funk bands on the
planet. ‘Sheez Music’ is a real funky joint with
fantastic lyrics. The track is lifted from their
acclaimed album Everybody Want Sum.
JON CLEARY & THE ABSOLUTE MONSTER
GENTLEMEN – Jon Cleary was born in Kent,
England but was bred in New Orleans. After
a visit to see his uncle who was living in New
Orleans, he decided to stay and has been
there for the best part of thirty years. He is a
brilliant pianist, singer and composer who has
fully immersed himself in the music and the
culture of the city.
LOS HOMBRES CALIENTES – Los Hombres
Calientes were formed by trumpeter
(and mayoral candidate) Irvin Mayfield,
percussionist Bill Summers and drummer
Jason Marsalis in order to explore the
Caribbean and South American influence on
New Orleans. ‘El Barrio’ is taken from their
first album and features a hook based around
Donny Hathaway’s classic track ‘The Ghetto’.
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR – ‘Fess’ as he was
affectionately known was the greatest New
Orleans rhythm and blues pianist ever to have
lived. He was at the forefront of two important
movements in New Orleans musical history;
the heyday of early rhythm and blues, and the
resurgence of interest in traditional jazz after
the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and
Heritage Festival. According to folklore he was
also responsible for naming the legendary
bar, Tipitina’s. The track included on this
Rough Guide is a live version of what is the
unofficial national anthem of New Orleans.
DR JOHN – Probably the most well
known internationally of all the artists on
this compilation, the infamous Dr. ‘Mac’
Rebennack, as he is also known is famous for
fusing blues, pop, jazz, zydeco, boogie woogie
and rock ‘n’ roll with his own original songwriting style. The track here showcases just
what an exceptional piano player he is and is
steeped in the New Orleans tradition that he
has been a major part of.
DR MICHAEL WHITE – The second ‘Doctor’
in this compilation is jazz clarinettist,
bandleader, composer, jazz historian and
musical educator, Dr. Michael White. He is
dedicated to keeping traditional jazz alive
in the twenty-first century. Unfortunately,
Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of his
personal collection of jazz artefacts, including
a clarinet mouthpiece owned by Sidney
Bechet and an estimated 5,000 records.
01 JESSIE HILL Ooh Poo Pah Doo
05 JAMES AND TROY ANDREWS Zulu King
09 THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND Sexual Healing (Re-Edit)
13 PROFESSOR LONGHAIR Big Chief (Live)
from the album JESSIE HILL’S OOH POO PAH DOO
(PART 1)
from the album 12 & SHORTY
from the album ROCK WITH THE HOT 8 (TRUCD141)
from the album PROFESSOR LONGHAIR LIVE
(James Andrews) pub BMI. Licensed from Keep Swingin’
(Quezergue, Gaines) pub Fairwood Music Ltd. Licensed
(Hill) pub SBK United Partnership. Licensed from License
Records.
(Gaye, Brown, Ritz.) pub Published by Ritz Writes/EMI
April Music Inc/EMI Blackwood Music Inc & EMI Songs
Ltd, Licensed from Tru Thoughts Records.
Music.
06 KERMIT RUFFINS Treme Mardi Gras
02 THE METERS Look-Ka Py Py
from the album LIVIN’ A TREME’ LIFE (BSR01072)
from the album THE VERY BEST OF THE METERS
(SNAP002CD)
(Modeliste, Nocentelli, Porter, Neville) pub Screen Gems
Emi Music Ltd, Licensed from License Music.
Records.
from Dumpstaphunk Records.
from the album SHAKIN’ (803040001125)
(Russell Batiste Jr.) pub Krewe of Funk (BMI). Licensed
from the album STREET PARADE (AIM1207CD)
from Funky Krewe Records.
(King) pub Fairwood Music Ltd. Licensed from License
Music.
from the album EVERYBODY WANT SUM
07 PAPA GROWS FUNK Soul Second Line
03 EARL KING Street Parade - Part 1
08 NEW ORLEANS NIGHTCRAWLERS Hold ‘em Joe
04 BIG CHIEF MONK BOUDREAUX Monk’s Mardi
Gras
from the album RISING SUN (FBCD-10007)
10 DUMPSTAPHUNK Sheez Music
(Ruffins) pub The Kermit Ruffins Music Company (BMI),
Nisab Publishing (BMI). Licensed from Basin Street
from the album SLITHER SLICE (8450113522)
(New Orleans Nightcrawlers) pub Not So Serious Music
Publishing. Licensed from Threadhead Records.
(Dumpstaphunk) pub Dumpstaphunk Records. Licensed
from License Music.
14 DR JOHN Mac’s Boogie
from the album DR. JOHN PLAYS MAC
REBENNACK (CCD720)
(Rebennack) pub Clean Cuts Music. Licensed from Clean
Cuts Records.
11 JON CLEARY & THE ABSOLUTE MONSTER
GENTLEMEN When You Get Back
from the album JON CLEARY AND THE ABSOLUTE
MONSTER GENTLEMEN (BSR09012)
(Cleary) pub FHQ Entertainment (BMI). Licensed from
Basin Street Records.
15 DR MICHAEL WHITE Basin’ Street Blues
from the album ADVENTURES IN NEW ORLEANS
JAZZ, PART 1 (BSR05052)
(Williams) pub Mpl Music Publishing, Inc. obo Edwin
H. Morris & Co. (ASCAP). Licensed from Basin Street
Records.
12 LOS HOMBRES CALIENTES El Barrio
from the album LOS HOMBRES CALIENTES (BSR02012)
(Neville, Summers, Mayfield) pub Bilsum Music (BMI), Irvin
(Boudreaux, Lisi) pub f.Boo Music (Robin Brennan).
Mayfield Publishing (BMI), Slaughter Neville Music (BMI),
Nisab Publishing (BMI). Licensed from Basin Street
Licensed from F-Boo Records.
Records.
Jon Cleary
Los Hombres Calientes
Dr Michael White
New Orleans Nightcrawlers
Dumpstaphunk
Visit www.worldmusic.net/neworleans
for music information, video clips and free tracks.
Papa Grows Funk
MUSICROUGHGUIDES
RGNET1272CD
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