Detroit native Ari Teitel burst on the scene in New Orleans with scorching guitar work, sharing stages with some of the best funk musicians in town. Besides his work playing live, he has earned two Grammy nominations as the musical director of Cha Wa. At the beginning of 2022, he left the group along with other core members and formed another Black Indian ensemble, the Rumble with chief Joseph Boudreaux, Jr. He also fronts his own band, the Get Together.

His new solo album, I Got My Thing, takes him in another direction from the sounds he has typically been involved in since moving to New Orleans five years ago. The nine original songs presented here are intimate and personal and the music mines the soul and R&B sounds of his hometown.

However, given the cast of supporting musicians, the album also percolates with New Orleans-inspired grooves. Jamison Ross handles most of the drum duties, Nigel Hall plays keys and Erica Falls sings back-up to name just a few of his collaborators. Paul Randolph, Teitel’s musical mate from Detroit, is the bassist throughout.

For someone that only knows the guitarist’s work as a sideman, Teitel’s vocals are a revelation. He hits some fine falsetto notes especially on “We’re Gonna Get By.” The cut is filigreed with curlicue guitar lines as he sings of optimism in the face of relentless bad news. Hall plays Moog bass providing a thick bottom end that stretches the ear.

Another excellent tune, a straight up love song, is “Together.” The groove is solid, and he hits some fine falsetto here as well. “You and I will share our love together, forever, we have made it through all the stormy weather, together.” While the production, also by the leader, is strong, it’s the vocal arrangement that leaves the biggest impression.

The same can be said for the whole album.