This is a Father's Day post dedicated to my dad, Kevin Smith. Dad, for you I put together a selection of some albums, both new and old, that represent some of the best New Orleans music I've heard recently. Considering how our interests in the city have grown watching Treme this summer, and how harshly this latest oil catastrophe is going to further damage the people of that city, the preservation of New Orleans culture is more vital now than ever, and music is at the heart of that culture. So, in the uplifting spirit of Father's Day, here are some albums that really convey the unmistakable, yet incredibly eclectic sound of New Orleans, and feature some of the best Big Easy musicians of many generations. Enjoy.
Love,
Josh
*EDIT -- Due to a copywrite complaint, I have had to take down the albums that were up for download in this post. Talk to me if you wanna actually hear all of this music.*
____________________________________________
Rebirth Brass Band - Ultimate Rebirth Brass Band
Rebirth is probably the second-best known brass band (after Dirty Dozen) in the extremely important New Orleans brass tradition. This tradition stretches back to the 19th century, in which brass bands would play music that fused the styles of European-style marching band tunes with West African folk music brought to America by slaves, a syncretism that would be instrumental in the creation of jazz, and the eventual swinging New Orleans jazz sound of many brass bands. Rebirth was founded in 1982 by sousaphonist Philip Frazier, his brother, bass drummer Keith Frazier, and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, who later left the group to found the Barbecue Swingers. Rebirth combines classic New Orleans second line brass music with elements of funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop to create a raw explosive sound, complete with strong backbeats, screaming horns, and harmonious chanting. This 2004 compilation of some of their greatest songs is a testament to almost three decades of music, and is also a great introduction to New Orleans brass.
The Meters - The Meters
The Meters were founded by Art Neville, keyboardist for the New Orleans' legendary soul group, The Neville Brothers. In the late 60's and early 70's, The Meters became the preeminent organ-based funk group in the world, a quartet that included Neville, now legendary bassist George Porter Jr. (who has worked with Paul McCartney, David Byrne, and Dr. John), guitarist Leo Nocentelli, and one of the most "in the pocket" drummers of all time, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste. The Meters became the house band for Allen Toussaint's record label, Sansu Enterprises, and also released a string of their own albums. The first of these, The Meters, included funk classics like "Cissy Strut" (now one of the most covered funk songs of all time), "Sophisticated Cissy," and others. This album is the origin of New Orleans organ funk, and has influenced countless funk musicians today, as well as becoming a frequent sample source for hip-hop producers. Ask ?uestlove...he'll tell you.
Ivan Neville's Dumstaphunk - Listen Hear
Ivan Neville, son of Neville Brothers vocalist supreme Aaron Neville, has created his own brand of guitar and organ driven New Orleans funk/rock with his band Dumpstaphunk. Neville, who contributed to several Neville Brothers records himself, is a masterful keyboardist and a great singer as well (as if a Neville could be anything else). Dumpstaphunk's sound is almost like a sonic kick to the face at times, as certain songs come in with a bang and never seem to let up, though some of the intricate funk lines are like nothing you've ever experienced. 2007's 5-song release, Listen Hear, is short and sweet, and shows why The New York Times labeled Dumpstaphunk the best current funk band out of New Orleans.
Galactic - Ya Ka May
When Elvis Costello refers in one episode of Treme to Galactic as, "like The Meters, but a bunch of white guys, right?," he isn't completely off, but his statement clearly shows his unfamiliarity (at least in the fictional reality of the show) with the full range of Galactic's music, one of the reasons the scene is so funny. Galactic has really carved its own niche within New Orleans music, and within American music as a whole, moving from New Orleans funk to creating a unique fusion of funk, jazz, soul, New Orleans brass, hip-hop, electronica, and world music. Originally formed by guitarist Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio after the two met as undergrads at Tulane University and immersed themselves in the local New Orleans music scene, Galactic has really evolved over the years. These days, drummer Stanton Moore often uses phrase samplers to sample rhythms and then play over them, creating a very intricate percussive sound. The rest of the group has also used more synthesizers and effects recently, though not to the extent that the music feels any less authentic. The group is now known around the world, touring with The Roots and the Allman Brothers, and often inviting New Orleans acts both famous and locally respected to share the stage for guest appearances. Their latest album, Ya-Ka-May, includes features from Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas, and the aforementioned Rebirth Brass Band. Definitely one of band's best albums, and one that showcases many different aspects of Nola music, a sort of bridge between classic and contemporary New Orleans.
Trombone Shorty - Backatown
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is one of the most exciting young musicians out of New Orleans right now, and is a member of the Andrews clan, who, along with the Nevilles, are one one of the city's most respectected musical families. Born into a family of brass players in the Treme neighborhood, the story goes that young Troy Andrews picked up the trombone and was marching with bands as a small child, before his arms were even long enough to reach all of the positions on the slide. As the newly christened "Trombone Shorty" grew up, he attracted attention as a both an incredibly young musician and as a virtuoso performer, eventually attending the well-known New Orleans Center For the Creative Arts, alma mater of Wynton and Branford Marsalis. Through various recording sessions and performances, Andrews ended up collaborating and performing with international acts like U2 and Green Day in 2006. Clearly rising in musical prominence, Troy has been recording with his own 6-piece band, Orleans Avenue, creating a fusion of New Orleans Brass, surprisingly hard rock, funk, and soul. The result, as can be heard on 2010's Backatown (produced by Galactic's Ben Ellman), is a true New Orleans concoction, one that feels as rich and seasoned as the city's famous cuisine.
________________
So there. Some New Orleans music for you to enjoy. I'll leave with this bonus track, Allen Toussaint's 1965 song, "Go Back Home." Famously sampled by DJ Premier for Jay-Z's now classic "D'evils," this seems like a perfect song to go out on, with bursting bluesy piano, thick contemplative horns, and the smooth voice that has helped to define New Orleans rhythm and blues for decades. Toussaint asks, "Where is the love that has meant so much?" It's right there in that troubled, sacred city. He had to "go back home" to to find it once again.
Allen Toussaint - Go Back Home
No comments:
Post a Comment