Issue Articles
NOLA Gypsy Jazz: Mike Harvey could not live without performing
After 12 years of gigs and two albums, gypsy jazz band the Courtyard Kings became Mike Harvey’s Hot Club. Of course, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France—that 1930s […]
Ready, Set, Go! Galactic makes its French Quarter Festival debut
It’s been a long time coming. Galactic, the New Orleans funk-rock-jazz band that plays 100 tour dates a year, is finally making its French Quarter Festival debut. “We’ve talked to […]
Watermelon Slim, Church of the Blues (Independent)
His given name is William P. Homans III. He calls himself Watermelon Slim. Born into a Boston blueblood family, Homans left the privileged life he seemed destined to enjoy. He […]
Roderick Harper, Perfect Imperfections (Independent)
A vocalist since early childhood, Roderick Harper sings with elegance and ease. The Washington, D.C., native studied jazz with the late Alvin Batiste at Southern University in Baton Rouge as […]
Jacye, That Was Then (Crazy Chester Records)
Jacye Guerin, a skilled songwriter and passionate singer from Plaquemine in Iberville Parish, goes all out for her album debut. That Was Then presents 13 mostly Southern soul–style original songs […]
Longhair Revelation: Per Oldaeus’ scrapbook
Per Oldaeus heard Professor Longhair for the first time in 1973. Longhair’s 1959 Ron Records release, “Cuttin’ Out,” was in a stack of vinyl 45s a friend had brought home […]
Leyla McCalla Talks Back
“You keep telling me to climb this ladder. I’ve got to pay my dues. But as I rise the stakes get higher. I’ve got the capitalist blues. When I give […]
Colin Blunstone of the Zombies talks back
In a cosmic twist of fate, March 29 is a twice-special date for the Zombies. On March 29, 1969, the British invasion band’s “Time of the Season” reached number one […]
Jim Pharis, High Mileage (Independent)
Folk-blues singer-guitarist Jim Pharis keeps it simple on High Mileage. Most of the songs on his made-in-Lafayette album feature Pharis’ finger-style acoustic guitar playing and deadpan, rather odd but amiable […]
The Iceman Special, The Iceman Special (Independent)
The Iceman Special’s Facebook bio says the group transplanted itself from Louisiana swamps to New Orleans. Traces of the swamp appear in the group’s eccentric, sometimes phantasmagoric music. Prog rock, […]
