Music
Hot 8 Brass Band, Vicennial (Tru Thoughts)
In the liner notes, Hot 8 leader and tuba player Bennie Pete explains the contents of Vicennial, an album that celebrates the brass band’s 20th anniversary. “The songs on this […]
Heavy Funkers: Eric Benny Bloom Is On The Rise
It might take a scorecard to keep up with trumpeter Eric Benny Bloom. The Rhode Island native and New Orleans resident since April 2014 boasts many musical ventures. Most important […]
Obituary: Joseph Torregano
Clarinetist/saxophonist Joe Torregano, a dedicated musician and teacher, and altogether a nice guy, died on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. He was 63 years old. Whether he was wearing a black […]
Obituary: Joseph “Smokey” Johnson
Joseph “Smokey” Johnson, a master of jazz, an originator of funk and an influential force in rhythm and blues, died on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. He was 78. “If there […]
Obituary: Steve Steinberg
There were gigs in New Orleans where one would just expect to see Steve Steinberg. Many folks and musicians first starting noticing him as a denizen of Donna’s Bar & […]
Robert Glasper, Covered (Blue Note)
Keyboardist and composer Robert Glasper first gained recognition as a hugely talented jazz artist with two Blue Note records under his belt. His career really took off when, in 2012, […]
Swamp Dogg
“This is Swamp Dogg, your lover, your savior and your reason for living,” announces Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams Jr.’s answering machine. Immediately it is understood that this guy ain’t your […]
Soundcheck: Five Questions with pianist and composer David Torkanowsky
You seem to be enjoying yourself— Thursdays as leader at Tableau’s “Wine Down Jazz Up” and most Tuesdays at Snug Harbor with the Stanton Moore Trio. How did the Tableau […]
Nicholas Payton, Letters (Paytone Records)
Unless someone is extremely well-versed in Nicholas Payton’s style on keyboards, it would probably be difficult to identify him as the leader on his latest disc, Letters. Of course Payton, […]
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Calling Your Name (Sound of New Orleans)
Zydeco accordionist and vocalist Dwayne Dopsie is a dynamo whose energized stage charisma translates right onto his recordings. Dospie, the youngest son of the late zydeco giant Alton “Rockin’ Dopsie” […]
