August 2012

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BackTalk

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
From the charismatic magnetism of Louis Armstrong’s golden melodies to the dazzling aptitude of Wynton Marsalis’ matchless forays, no other sound… – Aaron Lafont

Bookmark

Buddy Guy with David Ritz, When I Left Home: My Story (Da Capo Press)
“If I started in on what had become my live style—twisting the notes real hard, playing riffs that sounded like they… – Andrew Hamlin

Cover Story

Louis Armstrong's Musical Ideals
On June 29th, Trombone Shorty brought his band to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for an outdoor concert. The show sold out, but… – John Swenson

Features

Kid Ory: The Creole Trombone
One day in 1994, John McCusker was conducting his regular jazz tour when he came to Edward “Kid” Ory’s old home… – Zachary Young
Louis Armstrong's Great Chicago Concert: Pops at His Peak
Perhaps the greatest quasi-myth surrounding Louis Armstrong is that after the transformative glories of the small group Hot Five (1925-26, 1927,… – Robert Baird
Pops' Tops: The 10 Best Louis Armstrong Albums Since 1945
Satchmo at Symphony Hall (1947) The first live document of Armstrong’s return to the small group format after the big… – John Swenson
Louis Armstrong's Secret Nine: A Baseball Story
Louis Armstrong loved baseball. Couldn’t get enough of it. At one point, the trumpet legend drew up a list of his… – Ryan Whirty
New Orleans String Bands at the Turn of the Century
During the last two decades of the 19th Century, string bands with skilled Creole musicians were in high demand all around… – Seva Venet
Ralston Crawford's Classic Images
Ralston Crawford and Jazz — on display at the New Orleans Museum of Art now through Sunday, October 14 — contains… – Roger Hahn
Harry Shearer Takes a Hint
Comedians have been effective political commentators ever since Aristophanes used his wit to satirize the foibles of the ancient Greeks. Harry… – Tom McDermott
Kid Merv: Drinking from the Source
If you’re a musician in New Orleans, you’re never far from the source. In the case of trumpeter/vocalist Mervin “Kid Merv”… – John Swenson
NOLA Mix: Learning the 1s and 2s
In the summer of 1973, at a recreational center in a Bronx housing complex, an 18-year old named Clive Campbell, a.k.a.… – Brian Boyles
Paul Barrere of Little Feat's Louisiana Connection
After co-founder Lowell George left the band Paul Barrere became co-leader of Little Feat with keyboardist Bill Payne. A lifelong fan… – John Swenson

Fresh

Good for the City
The 11th Annual Ezra Open charity event will take place on Friday, September 7, 2012 at Harrah’s Casino Theater. Jonathan Silverman… – OffBeat Staff
Former Landmark Houses Zydeco Hall of Fame
Careers have begun and ended at Richard’s Club, a zydeco roadhouse built in 1947 in the St. Landry parish hamlet of… – Herman Fuselier
Solid Giant: Black Metal Speed
On a muggy summer Friday, the band Solid Giant is busy growling into the microphone at Siberia. This band composed of… – Colin Breaux
Kathleen Westfall Launches Ninth Ward Opera Company
New Orleans was once know as the opera capital of North America. The first week of August, adjunct UNO Professor Kathleen… – Zachary Young

Letters

August 2012 Letters
THE STREET VIEW Just want to take a minute to thank you [Jan Ramsey] for your commentary on the city, the… – OffBeat Readers

Mojo Mouth

Showcasing Our Heritage
From my perch overlooking Frenchmen and Decatur Street, I see a lot of strange things: second-line parades, gutter punks, street people… – Jan Ramsey

Obituaries

Obituary: "Uncle" Lionel Batiste (1931-2012)
Of all the colorful char-actors who’ve populated the streets of New Orleans over the years, Uncle Lionel Batiste takes the cake.… – John Swenson

OffBeat Eats

Dining Out: Fatoush
The New Orleans Healing Center labels itself as a provider of services, products and programs promoting physical, nutritional, emotional, intellectual, spiritual,… – Peter Thriffiley & Rene Louapre
Leo DeJesus Hits the Spot at Hoshun
Hoshun 1601 St. Charles Ave. (504) 302-9717 How often do you find yourself here? At least once every two weeks, if… – Caitlyn Ridenour

Dining Out

Dining Out: Fatoush
The New Orleans Healing Center labels itself as a provider of services, products and programs promoting physical, nutritional, emotional, intellectual, spiritual,… – Peter Thriffiley & Rene Louapre

Photo Op

Skrillex Drops Beats, Makes Waves at Hangout
Photographer: MICHAEL KANDEL Thousands of dubstep enthusiasts packed the Xbox Live stage at Hangout Fest, eagerly awaiting Skrillex, arguably the… – OffBeat Staff

The Spot

Leo DeJesus Hits the Spot at Hoshun
Hoshun 1601 St. Charles Ave. (504) 302-9717 How often do you find yourself here? At least once every two weeks, if… – Caitlyn Ridenour

Reviews

Branford Marsalis Quartet, Four MF’s Playin’ Tunes (Marsalis Music)
It’s been roughly 100 years since the uniquely American music that came to be known as jazz was being codified on… – John Swenson
Bas Clas, Bas Clas (Serfdom Records)
Rock bands known for an epic 15-year run, marathon sets and a sizeable regional following usually sit on their laurels and… – Dan Willging
Little Feat, Rooster Rag (Rounder)
The history books say that when guitarist Paul Barrere, bassist Kenny Gradney and percussionist Sam Clayton joined Little Feat for the… – John Swenson
Béla Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio, Across The Imaginary Divide (Rounder)
Marcus Roberts is a pianist known for his proficiency in early piano styles like stride and ragtime, seasoned with a bit… – Zachary Young
Roland Guerin, A Different World (Independent)
As the title suggests, Roland Guerin travels to different realms on his latest CD. Performing in an array of settings, the… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Anais St. John, Anais St. John (Independent)
On her latest release, Anais St. John chooses difficult terrain and proves her mettle as a navigator. The fourteen standards showcase… – Brian Boyles
Michael Juan Nunez and the American Electric, My Little Train Wreck (Parish Line Records)
Though Michael Juan Nunez may not be a household name when it comes to national, blues rock circles, truthfully, his stuff… – Dan Willging
The Smoky Greenwell Band, 99% Blues (Greenwell Records)
Inspired by the Supreme Court’s frightful Citizen’s United ruling, Smoky Greenwell takes a stand on the rollicking title track that rightfully protests… – Dan Willging
Chip Wilson, Fond Regards (Immersion)
Chip Wilson is a folk musician by default, the way you might call Leonard Cohen a folk musician. Accompanying himself on… – John Swenson
Willie West, Can’t Help Myself (AVI)
Via classic ’60s singles on Rustone and Frisco, as well as a stint with the Meters, Willie West can be considered… – Jeff Hannusch
Cowboy Mouth, This Train... (Independent)
National success and ‘90s radio hits proved a mixed blessing for Cowboy Mouth. Before the twin breakthroughs of “Jenny Says” and… – Brett Milano
The Mercy Brothers, Holy Ghost Power! (Sockmo Music)
Holy Ghost Power! the debut disc from Lafayette’s Mercy Brothers, is a gospel-rocking retro set of strong originals from veteran singer-songwriters… – Rick Olivier
Carl LeBlanc, Those Who Have Ears (Independent)
Carl LeBlanc is another of the great, unsung musicians in New Orleans. His guitar and banjo skills have graced stages and… – David Kunian
Stephanie Jordan: Respect, Maturity and Verve
Stephanie Jordan assembled a top-notch group of long-time collaborators to record her debut album. The vocalist hand-picked such notables as pianist… – Geraldine Wyckoff