Galactic, arguably the most popular New Orleans band in the contemporary galaxy, celebrates its tenth anniversary on September 9 and 10 at Tipitinas’s, augmented by a universe of guest stars, ranging from retired vocalist Theryl “Houseman” DeClouet to Allen Toussaint to DJ Quickie Mart. Bassist Robert Mercurio, who founded the band with childhood friend, guitarist [...]
This is certainly one of the odder Putumayo compilations, featuring 12 selections of broadly defined “swing” music from the planet Earth, including three tunes from Louisiana: the New Orleans Jazz Vipers’ “Blue Drag,” adopted son Duke Heitger and his Swing Band’s “Swing Pan Alley,” and the Jambalaya Cajun Band’s “Hey, Rock.” Swing, at least to [...]
Hannah, Leah and Sarah Peasall are three young sisters from Tennessee, the oldest of which just graduated from high school. Their big break came when they were featured on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack although, because they come from such a devoutly Christian family, the sisters were not allowed to see the movie [...]
“If Keith Richards tells you you’re a little too out-of-control, you’re in bad shape.” When Ivan Neville was born in New Orleans on August 19, 1959, his mother Joel’s family was less than pleased—owing to the absentee status of his profligate father—that his birth certificate read “Aaron Neville, Jr.” Someone scratched the name out and [...]
Since beginning her cooking career as an apprentice to Chef Daniel Bonnot at the Louis XVI Restaurant in 1979, Susan Spicer has emerged as one of New Orleans’ most renowned chefs. With Regina Keever, Susan opened Bayona in 1990, where she serves as executive chef and has created such favorites as Cream of Garlic Soup, [...]
The difference between Stanton Moore, drummer for funk-rock band Galactic, and Stanton Moore, drummer for heavy metal band Corrosion of Conformity, is the difference between Clark Kent and Superman. Or perhaps a Dodge minivan and a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. Or impotence and a boner. Those who have compared Stanton’s drumming on this CD to John [...]
According to his friend and frequent collaborator, pianist Tom McDermott, “Tim’s sound makes a lot of other clarinetists sound like they’re playing kazoos.” Yet another unique aspect of Tim Laughlin’s career as a musician is that he actually composes new material, a refreshing anomaly in the neo-conservative realm of traditional jazz. Clad in an ancient [...]
Raised in Westbury, Long Island, New York, keyboardist Joe Krown commenced playing piano as a child. In college at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Krown discovered the Hammond B-3 organ and after his fifth semester, departed undergraduate life for a distinguished career as in-demand sideman. In 1992, he moved to New Orleans [...]
