Vocalist Nasimiyu Murumba came to New Orleans from the Twin Cities in 2009, and it’s clear from the title to the lyrical content of her EP that she’s set on making a new home, and making her music about it. It Ain’t Pretty but It’s Beautiful collects six of her original songs, and it’s obvious [...]
Tag Archives: soul
Mavis Staples
July 1, 2011 – 12:28 am
“Stand flat-footed, and sing from your heart.” These were the words Roebuck “Pops” Staples used to motivate a young Mavis Staples. Together with her father and siblings, the Staple Singers did just that, creating a unique legacy in the history of popular music. Their songs, which became known as “message songs,” blended elements of gospel [...]
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Parish at House of Blues July 27
July 1, 2011 – 12:24 am
We may be at the point where we can stop referring to Jason Isbell as a former member of Drive-By Truckers. Here We Rest, his third studio album as a solo artist, establishes Isbell as an artist and bandleader with his own nuanced artistic vision. The album takes its name from his home state of [...]
Brice Nice’s Story of Rosemont Records Guest Mix
April 27, 2011 – 7:55 pm
The Jazz Fest Bible is now out, and inside you’ll find the very detailed story of Rosemont Records and its founder, Al Taylor. From the late ’60s through late ’80s, Rosemont was one of, if not the, most prolific record labels in New Orleans history. Local DJ Brice Nice spent many hours speaking with Taylor, [...]
YouTube du Jour: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
March 15, 2011 – 12:06 am
Tonight, classic R&B/soul/funk powerhouse band Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings stops at House of Blues on their tour throughout the South. The band was previously in town during Jazz Fest last year, when they played a completely-packed show at the Howlin Wolf. While the band’s recent albums have focused more on their songwriting and arranging [...]
Shake Your Soul For $100 At Siberia Tonight
March 3, 2011 – 1:15 pm
Ever go to Mod Dance Party at the Saturn Bar and think to yourself, “Man, I’m the best dancer in this joint. Someone oughta give me some money, I’m so bad!” If so, cool—here’s your chance to live up to those narcissistic dreams. Tonight DJ Jonathan Toubin is bringing his infamous “Soul Clap” party from [...]
Classic Singer Willie West Gets His Shot at NYC
February 22, 2011 – 6:05 pm
After 55 years in the music business, one of the great unsung figures of New Orleans R&B, singer Willie West, is finally getting the chance to perform solo in New York. Since Katrina, West has been living and performing in St. Cloud, Minnesota, a town of about 65,000 that is 65 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul. [...]
Shannon McNally, Western Ballad (Sacred Sumac Records)
February 1, 2011 – 12:59 am
One of the hallmarks of Shannon McNally’s music is a plasticity. It’s not the only one, but that trait has meant that her collaborators leave an obvious mark on her music, even as it remains clearly hers. On Jukebox Sparrows, her Capitol Records debut, that meant the label and producer could put a layer of [...]
Tony Joe White, The Shine (Swamp Records)
February 1, 2011 – 12:56 am
The formula might seem familiar: older artist strips down to his barest elements, his age injecting a new depth to each turn in his voice, and puts together an introspective, back- to-his-roots album. We re-appreciate the craftsman and toast his longevity. A comeback of sorts, we say. What makes the latest release from Tony Joe [...]
