Music
Tarik Hassan, Tarik Hassan (Independent)
For his debut album, bassist Tarik Hassan assembled an outstanding quartet that features Rex Gregory (saxophones), Austin Johnson (piano, Rhodes) and Simon Lott (drums). Vocalist Johnaye Kendrick also joins the […]
The Professors of Pleasure, Volume Two (Independent)
The Professors of Pleasure, John Doheny’s Tulane University faculty jazz band, use their second CD, Volume Two, to put on a clinic in modern jazz performance and composition. In less […]
Los Po-Boy-Citos, Brand New Dance (Independent)
In a city that has synthesized musical styles throughout its history, a boogaloo band makes perfect sense. Los Po-Boy-Citos embraced that mingling ethic from the start, merging New Orleans R&B […]
Leroy Thomas, Jewel of the Bayou (Maison de Soul Records)
Though Leroy Thomas’ CDs have been consistently good over the years, they’ve also had a run-and-gun sound that left them rough around the edges. His Maison de Soul debut stands out […]
Flow Tribe, Now Ya Know: Live at Tipitina’s (Independent)
Perhaps the dominant trend in recent New Orleans party-rock music has been to lean heavily on wah-wah guitars and drum kits. Flow Tribe is an interesting case in point, as […]
pLink Floyd, Nickels & Diamonds (Independent)
In a 1991 interview with OffBeat, Béla Fleck expressed frustration at being constantly credited with “bringing the banjo to jazz.” While much of the world may be ignorant of the […]
Arson Anthem, Insecurity Notoriety (Housecore Records)
Arson Anthem, according to the band’s website, has a mission: to bring “the roots of painful amplification, raw production, and a true ‘Fuck All’ attitude” to a new generation of […]
Ray Charles, The Undiscovered Masters (Concord Records)
In discussing Ray Charles, local trumpeter Frank Mitchell once stated, “I don’t know who first called him ‘The Genius,’ but they sure hit the nail on the head.” That quality of […]
The Jazz Passengers, Reunited (Justin Time Records)
Given that jazz can easily slip into the realm of the too serious, the return of the Jazz Passengers with their gonzo attitude and slightly off-kilter tunes is to be […]
Mutemath, Armistice Live CD/DVD (Warner Bros Records)
My first instinct when watching Mutemath’s Armistice Live DVD was that it made the show look more exciting than it really was. Quick cuts, dramatic camera angles and a host […]
