Music
Johnny Vidacovich, ’bout Time (Independent)
Johnny Vidacovich is one of the relatively hidden treasures of New Orleans music to outsiders, but locals know how important he is to the fabric of the city’s […]
Edward “Kidd” Jordan with Joel Futterman, William Parker, Hamid Drake | A Tribute to Alvin Fielder: Live at the Vision Festival XXIV (Mahakala)
One of the missing pieces from 2020 music is the always forward-looking and philosophically probing Vision festival, a New York institution that has been directed musically by the great […]
Altering Course: 79rs Gang are ’bout to blow
This had to happen. Mardi Gras Indian music is one of the few remaining signifiers of New Orleans culture. So is hip-hop, from its national heroes to its local strain […]
A record for our time: Write Brothers’ testament to Spencer Bohren
Spencer Bohren came from the open sky and the cold hard realities of prairie fundamentalism. His early life was a routine of relentless sun, strong winds, drenching rains and miracle […]
John “Papa” Gros, Central City (Funky Krewe Records)
John “Papa” Gros has seen a lot of personal growth over the past few years even as he’s had to deal with setbacks. After making the terrific Needle In the […]
An Appreciation of the 2020 Jazz Fest Headliners Who Weren’t
Anyone who witnessed The Who’s first performance at Jazz Fest three years ago understands what a superbly balanced show it was. The event was part of the band’s extended 50th […]
John “Papa” Gros talks back
I interviewed John Gros for this piece on March 12. There was so much to talk about. He had a great new album, Central City, which he was going to […]
The Electric Arch, Out of Range (Independent)
Nikolai Tesla knew what he was doing. So does James Marler, leader of the fascinating New Orleans project The Electric Arch, which makes music that approximates the soundtrack to some […]
Various Artists, Land of 1000 Dances: The Rampart Records 58th Anniversary Complete Singles Collection (Minky Records)
Chris Kenner was musical Ice Nine. Few characters channeled the wild, ecstatic vision of Cosimo Matassa’s J&M dream better than this legendary madman of New Orleans R&B and rock ’n’ […]
Franco Ambrosetti Quintet, Long Waves (Unit)
New Orleans music fans are well aware of guitarist John Scofield, the great jazz and funk conceptualist best known around these parts for the incendiary Piety Street sessions. But Scofield’s […]
