December 2004
BackTalk
- Mark Mullins
The trombone, as composer Hector Berlioz once observed, can musically portray everything from “religious accent, calm and imposing…to wild clamors of…
Bayou Boogie
- Bayou Boogie: Zydeco's Grand Ole Opry
Before there was Thursday night zydeco at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl, a zydeco cruise and zydeco festivals across the United States…
Bluesworthy
- Scratchin' at the Blues
Nothing warms the heart or soothes the soul like the mellifluous tone of metal hitting metal. A saw finding a nail…
Bookmark
- Bob Dylan, Chronicles Volume One (Simon & Schuster)
Dylan’s Self Portrait Chances are, if you’re any sort of Dylan fan at all, you rushed out to buy this book… - Ned Sublette: Cuba and Its Music (Chicago Review Press)
The “Other Great Tradition” Of Cuban Music It’s not often one gets to spend a morning with a world authority on…
Cover Story
- Brian Stoltz
Maintaining a full-time career as a musician has as much to do with talent as it does tenacity. Fortunately for Brian…
Dis 'n' Dat
- Displeasure
NO EX-MAS METAPHORS It’s that time of year again: time for everyone to remark how much earlier the Christmas ads have…
Features
- 10x10 2004: Favorite CDs of 2004
It’s the toughest annual assignment OffBeat proposes to its select cadre of ten regular contributors: a list of their ten favorite… - Lenny Jorns Drops an N-Bomb
Singer/songwriter Lenny Jorns was raised in Metairie and has had a storied musical career. As a session musician, he’s played bass… - Stratocaster Stratosphere
Ah, the Fender Stratocaster! It is truly an American icon, but its impact has had reverberations worldwide since its humble inception…
Feed Me Something, Mister
- Feed Me Something, Mister: Retro Revival
Retro Revival When a beloved local business fades out or simply closes down, it’s natural to mourn its loss and remember…
Hidden Charms
- Christmas In July
It’s July 20, 2002 and I’m standing outside of the Millennium Theater in Southfield, Michigan, with my favorite soul singer of…
Jazzin'
- Abrams Lets the Audience Decide
Abrams Lets The Audience Decide“I never talk about the music before people hear it,” declared pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams in answer…
Letters
- Letters December 2004
BIG ON BIG AL Suffering from severe depression after the election I turned to the November 2004 issue of OffBeat for…
Live Wire
Mojo Mouth
- Music Museum on Canal Street?
When I was a kid, a trip downtown was a big deal. I remember going to the movies with my grandmother…
Reviews
- Casey Hayes, The Iron Year (Perennial Records)
Casey Hayes is taking a shot at what is a rarity in today’s short attention spanned world—a concept album. After having… - Rusty Bonz, Rusty Bonz (Independent)
- Del McCoury, High, Lonesome, and Blue (Rounder)
- Babe Stovall, Mississippi Blues and Religious Songs (Arcolaa Records)
- Sister Gertrude Morgan, Let's Make A Record (Preservation Hall Records)
“Sister Gertrude Morgan, vocals, tambourine,” reads the back of this CD, and that’s a good example of truth in advertising: the… - Nublues, Dreams of a Blues Man (21st Century Blues)
- Chris Thomas King, Why My Guitar Screams & Moans (21st Century Blues)
- Jimmy McCracklin and his Blue Blasters, Blues Blastin' (Ace)
- Esther Sparks, Dirty Little Fingers (Independent)
- Various Artists, Pure Swamp Pop Gold: Volume 5 (CSP Records)
- Velvet Revolver, Contraband (RCA)
- Townes Van Zandt, Legend (Charly)
- Willie “Big Eyes” Smith & the Juke Joint Rockers, Bluesin' It (Electro-Fi)
- Howard Noel, Jr. & Cajun Boogie, The Ring On Her Pillow (Lanor Records)
- Steve Juno, 8-Track Mind (Vinyl Records)
- Keith Jarrett Trio, The Out-of-Towners (ECM)
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Everything You Want For Christmas (Big Bad/Vanguard)
- Dianne Reeves, Christmas Time Is Here (Blue Note)
- Various Artists, Christmas Gumbo (Flambeau Records)
- Dink Johnson, Mr. Johnson Signing Off (Delmark)
- Donald Fontenot et Les Amis de la Louisiane, Ride the Donkey (Swallow Records)
- Sean Ardoin-N-Zydekool, Strictly For The Dancers (Zydekool Records)
- Monica Dillon, All I Have Is A Moment (Independent)
- Various Artists, Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol' Box of New Orleans (Shout! Factory)
- Green Day, American Idiot (Warner/Reprise)
After creatively stagnating with the release of two compilations in a row, the last thing anyone would have expected Green Day… - Big Al and the Heavyweights, Nothin' But Good Lovin' (Independent)
- Rhoades D'Albo & the Devil's Right Hand, Truckerspeed and Other Vices (Statue)
- Wayne Foret, Let's Do It Again (CSP Records)
Once again, the swamp poppin’ West Bank mainstay rolls with a glowingly warm set of tracks that may be his best… - Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Dog Days (Corrugated Records)
The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio delivers the goods again with their sophomore release Dog Days. If you’re not familiar with this… - Truckstop Honeymoon, Christmas In Ocala (Squirrel Records)
By now ya’d think the honeymoon would be over, especially one christened in a stinky truck stop along I-10. But for… - Various Artists, Blues In The Night/Soul of the Night (Rounder)
Now here’s a good idea; two compilations that recognize how urban blues and soul work even better when the lights go… - Nathaniel Mayer, I Just Want To Be Held (Fat Possum)
Recently the New Orleans music scene was dealt a blow when Circle Bar proprietress Kelly Keller passed away. Kelly’s efforts helped… - Craig Klein, Trombonisms (Independent)
Trombonist/vocalist Craig Klein, an always ready-to-play musician who’s a member of Harry Connick, Jr.’s band, Bonerama, Leroy Jones’ quintet, the Storyville… - Bonerama, Live From New York (Mule Train Records)
You couldn’t ask for a more exciting start for an album than the full-of-fun, highly-spirited “Baronne.” The Mark Mullins original gets…
