Dr. John and David “Fathead” Newman are at it again with a slightly different lineup than their Bluesiana Triangle. The late drummer Art Blakey is replaced here by Living Colour’s Will Calhoun. Ray Anderson adds some rather unconventional trombone work and Jay Leonhart plays funky full-toned acoustic bass on side 1. Like the Triangle album, this is a fresh treatment of the blues and a must for anyone who is madly in love with the blues in all its many wonderful forms. It combines Dr. John’s swampy New Orleans funk with Newman’s jazzy R&B. It is full of life, though without the driving pulse and energy of Blakey’s swing. Calhoun, however, holds his own with studio precision. This mostly instrumental effort’s most notable vocal cut is Calhoun’s “Love’s Parody,” a reserved minor blues with a haunting melody and a beautiful saxophone part by Newman. Other highlights include the funky rock piece “Skoshuss,” with a catchy TV theme song horn part, and “Montana Banana,” an understated funk vamp with percussion and flute reminiscent of War. Dr. John strides and trips around the keys as always, and Anderson wah wahs, bleats and squeezes notes out of the trombone. As if you needed more reason to buy this record, a portion of the proceeds go to the National Coalition for the Homeless.