Twenty years have elapsed since Mac Rebennack set aside the extravagances of his "Dr. John" character to record the acclaimed Gumbo album, a relatively low-key homage to New Orleans R&B that included such pillars as "Iko Iko" and Professor Longhair's "Tipitina."

Now Rebennack has released another tribute album, Goin' Back to New Orleans. More ambitious in scope and attention to detail than Gumbo, its 18 tracks follow the evolution of New Orleans music from cl...