Music
Barrence Whitfield & the Savages: Glory (Folc Records)
It’s been a whopping 40 years since Barrence Whitfield & the Savages were first formed in Boston by a couple garage-rock veterans (who’d just exited local legends the Lyres) and a newly discovered, wailing maniac of a lead singer.
Jack’s Waterfall: Call Dr. John (M.C. Records)
This salute to Dr. John, and to New Orleans R&B as a whole, was put together by Long Island-based pianist Jack Licitra and his crew, all of whom are well-steeped in the tradition (they’ve even subtitled the album as an “American Roots Project”).
Aaron Neville: Tell It Like It Is: My Story (Hachette Book Group)
Aaron Neville relates his life story like he sings a song; he makes it very sincere and personal.
Lost Bayou Ramblers, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (Live) (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra)
If you’re a Lost Bayou Ramblers fan, you’ve certainly seen fiddler-singer Louis Michot on stage at times wearing a zippered jump suit—a Cajun onesie, as some came to call it.
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: Feel So at Home (TIpitina’s Record Club)
The late, great guitarist and vocalist Walter “Wolfman” Washington could be accompanied by a string section, as he is on several cuts on this newly released album, I Feel So at Home, backed by a combo or alone with his guitar, his voice and style remain immediately identifiable. It’s called soulfulness.
Ghalia Volt: Shout Sister Shout (Ruf Records)
Look at Ghalia Volt’s feet; you won’t see any grass growing underneath them since she constantly evolves her musical landscape. Since the Belgian blues guitarist’s arrival in the Crescent City in 2016, she’s already cut several albums.
The Groove Krewe featuring Jonathon Boogie Long: Blues From the Bayou (EP) (Sound Business Services)
To understand Blues from the Bayou featuring Jonathon Boogie Long and its predecessor recording, Run to Daylight featuring Nick Daniels III, is to understand the Groove Krewe. The Groove Krewe is not the typical performing group with the same perennial frontman but a triumvirate of music industry veterans Rex Pearce, Nelson Blanchard, and Dale Murray.
Corey Ledet Zydeco: Médikamen (Nouveau Electric Records)
If you haven’t noticed by now, Corey Ledet is on a mission to burrow deeper and deeper into his Creole culture. On his 2021 album Corey Ledet Zydeco, the zydeco accordionist revealed his passion for Kouri-Vini, a French lexified Creole language and the native tongue of his father CJ and other family members. On that pivotal 2021 recording, Ledet sang five songs in the language and vowed every song would be in Kouri-Vini from then on. With Médikamen, he holds true to that promise. All songs were recorded in his cultural idiom.
The Ladies Of…: Coming Out of Our Tenderness (Independent)
Admittedly I’m not all that familiar with James Hall’s career—which includes numerous solo and band projects over the past 30 years, along with a few years’ residence in New Orleans (and an OffBeat cover, August 1993)—and I’m not a huge fan of rap/rock crossover. So, I clearly wouldn’t be in the target audience for Hall spearheading a new rock/rap crossover project.
Max Bien Kahn: When I Cross it Off (Mashed Potato)
Never underestimate the ability of a good pop song to put a little sunshine into the day. Tuba Skinny member Max Bien Kahn works in that realm when outside of his regular band; on two previous albums (with the ad-hoc band Max & the Martians) he wrote about covid shutdown and romantic breakups, using buoyant pop tunes for reassurance. This official solo album is notably more upbeat and more fully produced; not every lyric is happy but there’s a prevailing sense of good vibes.
