Music
Leo Forde, Double Whiskey (Independent)
Leo Forde, Double Whiskey. The record features trad jazz standards as well as tunes outside the genre, such as “Just A Gigolo,” performed in the hot jazz style. The band features the cream of the crop of local players including the strong rhythm section of pianist David Boeddinghaus, rhythm guitarist John Rodli and bassist Nobu Ozaki.
Joe Hall and the Louisiana Cane Cutters, Mélange (Fruge Records)
Joe Hall and the Louisiana Cane Cutters, Mélange. Soon after Joe Hall’s Proud to be Creole release dropped in 2021, the torch-bearing Creole music accordionist couldn’t wait to get in the studio again with gifted fiddler Cedric Watson and monster bassist Chuck Bush.
Chunky Hustle Brass Band, CHuBB (Independent)
Chunky Hustle Brass Band, CHuBB. I’ve got good news and bad news about the debut album from the cheekily named Chunky Hustle Brass Band. First off, the San Diego outfit has written some songs that could be destined to be part of the brass band canon. They also have an original touch with cover songs.
Bookmark: Burt Feintuch, Creole Soul (University of Mississippi Press)
Burt Feintuch, Creole Soul. It’s always an honor whenever someone from inside the culture films a documentary or writes about their cultural music. But when someone outside the culture documents it, it becomes even more significant since it’s viewed from an unbiased, unattached perspective. Such a statement is echoed by the book Creole Soul by Burt Feintuch. In addition to being an academic and a musician, he has written about regional cultures, roots music, and North American revival music since the ’70s.
Louis Armstrong, Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule (Verve/UMe)
Naturally, trumpeter and vocalist extraordinaire Louis Armstrong swings the holidays on Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule, a compilation of material from previously released albums and singles from the 1950s. It gets jumpin’ on the fun-filled title cut on which he’s backed by a big band as he is on most of the selections.
Meryl Zimmerman, A Very Meryl Christmas (Independent)
As a collection of holiday favorites, A Very Meryl Christmas holds, as might be expected, few surprises. Vocalist, Meryl Zimmerman, who is originally from Long Island, New York and for the last decade has been a resident of New Orleans, sings the mostly familiar material fairly straight-ahead, enriched by the arrangements by her co-producer, bassist Ed Wise and guitarist Eric Merchant.
Russell Welch Hot Quartet, Time On My Hands (R8T Records)
The title of the album says it all. Guitarist Russell Welch certainly had time on his hands, like we all did, during the pandemic. He put it to better use than most by recording 17 songs in his studio in the Faubourg Marigny—an effort he calls “a collection of quarantine recordings.”
Jimmy Carpenter, The Louisiana Record (Gulf Coast Records)
Covers albums always have a couple of built-in booby traps. You play it too close and there’s no point; you take too many liberties, and you may wind up trashing the songs you love. The best way out is just to assemble a good band and play it like you mean it, not worrying too much about whether you sound like someone else’s record. That’s what saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter and his crew have done on this set of oft-recorded (mostly) Louisiana classics.
Hanna Mignano, Interplay (Independent)
Violinist and vocalist Hanna Mignano returns with her second release, Interplay, featuring Pete Roze on guitar and Roy Brenc on bass. Her first record, which was reviewed in OffBeat in November 2019, featured a quartet with different supporting players.
Lawrence Sieberth, VooDooTek (Musik Blöc)
Pianist Lawrence Sieberth never met a musical style he didn’t like or to which he couldn’t add his own personal stamp. In this case, the prolific composer turns his focus to what he calls “very jazztronic fusion.” In other words, fusing many styles and worldly influences into a fresh musical gumbo. On more than a few moments, you’d swear you’re listening to a 21st century edition of Weather Report.
