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Elly Roberts reviews
Putumayo World Music
- Released: February 2005
- Rating: 8/10
- Cat.no.: PUT 232-2
Flavour some of the Mardi Gras celebrations with this Putumayo World Musics release of jazz, blues and swing – New Orleans style.
With only two household names to boast – Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima, thiseleven tracker still manages to bring out the best of the genre.
Current and past crème de la crème come out to play, giving a tableaux snapshotof the lively interpretations. Bursting with quality musicianship and singing,the mood of the Mardi Gras is brought straight into your living room (or whereveryou like to play it).
After an energetic start by local favourite Kermit Ruffins (who also get asimultaneous CD release), he lives up to his reputation as the hottest newtalent in New Orleans. The sweltering heat and atmosphere continues throughoutthe disc, with sublime contributions from Armstrong on Tin Roof Blues(recorded 1966), as he growls and snarls his way through the plodding and charmingstandard.
Louis Prima, another legend, shows some fine smokey vocals on Basin Street Blues,a song about the notorious red-light district of the city. Virtuoso singer TopsyChapman adds her sharp and deft vocal discipline on the cool and infectious BabyWont You Please Come Home.
Despite being on the scene for many years, Chapman is a star waiting to bediscovered. Stellar trumpeter Kevin Clark is mesmerising on The Devil DoneGot Me Blues, as is Dr. Michael Whites fluid clarinet work on GypsySecond Line.
Dr John, one of the giants of the city, throws in his version of Basin StreetBlues in his inimitable and unique style.
Overall, the collection hits all the right notes,as it spreads the playlist tocover both new and old forms of Jazz.
Weblink:Putumayo.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Drop Me Off In New Orleans – Kermit Ruffins
2. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues – Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton
3. Basin Street Blues – Louis Prima
4. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams – Preservation Hall Hot 4 with Duke Dejan
5. Baby Wont You Please Come Home – Topsy Chapman and the Pros
6. The Devil Done Got Me Blues – Kevin Clark and the Jazz Revolution
7. Tin Roof Blues – Louis Armstrong
8. Basin Street Blues – Dr.John
9. Give It Up (Gypsy Second Line) – Dr.Michael White
10. Going Back To New Orleans – Deacon John
11. Bye&Bye/Saints – Gregg Stafford & Dr.Michael White
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.