Back In The New York Groove (For Better Or Worse)

 

 

 

 

I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles. I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles. I had a good weekend in Chanhassen, hanging out at Paisley Park studios. I walked the walls of Lucca, Italy. I rode jetskis in the bays of Grenada. I did not have a problem returning from those places. I always have a problem coming home from New Orleans.

Returning from eight days in New Orleans, only to begin life at home again in Kennedy Airport, Terminal 22, is a cruel joke. All good things must come to an end, I know. But jeez New Yorkers, must you never disappoint? 

Overheard at baggage claim:

"This is Carousel 3, sir. You need to go to Carousel 5."

"I gotta walk all the way over there? Are you f**king kidding me? How long I gotta wait for these f**king bags?"

True story.

(And by the way, the waiting in New Orleans, for not just luggage, but coffee, menus, cabs, answers to questions, is longer, easier and far more pleasurable.)

Before I go any further, how about a hand for BBJ? What a show! 

Thank you, my friend, for keeping this place open. Your posts were stellar. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your art, your music, your insight and your time.

I'll spare you details on the food that was consumed these last eight days. That wouldn't be fun for anybody. 

But this:

And this:

And dat's dat.

There were no weak music moments. Every performance, from the Fairgrounds on Fest Days, to the clubs at night, was something to remember. 

I bought a ton of records, so you vinyl fiends, keep an eye on the Discogs page. I had most shipped, but I did take home what I could carry and some of those titles have already been listed for sale.

As for the music---

---my new favorite thing is this stunning cover of the old Fats Waller standard performed by Alexis & The Samurai. I've known about this duo for some time now, but never took the chance on seeing them perform. There was always someone else I needed to hear first. But some friends insisted, so I listened. 

They were right.

 

 

I was all ready for the Tommy McClain/C.C. Adcock duo at the Jazz Museum, but Tommy dropped out last minute. C.C. claimed he had a BBQ to attend, but I was told by someone who "knew" that he fell ill. Hopefully, C.C. was right and it was just a BBQ. That seems like a happier, more NOLA-centric excuse. The duo is scheduled to perform this weekend at Fest, so hopefully Tommy is alright.

 C.C. performed a terrific solo acoustic set and killed it with this beauty, a Lil' Band O' Gold track co-written by the two of them.

(Lil' Band O' Gold is also featured on Today's Cover Version.

 

 

 

 

While New Orleans is never completely out of my system, I will need a few days to start focusing on other things, so bear with me.

Song Of The Day starts tomorrow. Best Thing I Listened To Yesterday and Today's Cover starts today. I'll get a new One Sentence Review up as soon as my brain starts to harden.

(Yea, you right!)

I will leave you with one from the great Jon Cleary.

A highlight of last week was Jon Cleary's New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Revue. Cleary's band, The Absolute Monster Gentlemen held court at The Broadside, an old movie house that has created an outdoor space adjacent to the building. (I'm sure our friend pmac can enlighten us further on the history of the venue. No pressure, pmac.)

 

Cleary and the AMG played the best of their catalogue, as well as bringing out some New Orleans legends for a bit of old school R&B, like Walter "Wolfman" Washington and John Boutte, who slayed with a trio of classics--- Barbara George's "I Know," Dave Bartholomew's "I Hear You Knockin'," and something called "Black Drawers," that was new to me. 

Then, the legendary James Rivers took the stage as Cleary reminded everyone of Rivers presence on over hundreds of New Orleans classics going back to his first single, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" from 1961. 

This was a night to remember.

 

 

One more thing--

Jon Cleary just released a limted edition 45 featuring two new tracks--a cover of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Lonely Man's Prayer" backed with a medley of Willie Tee's "New Kinda Groove" and Donny Hathaway's "Everything Is Everything." Not many were pressed, so get on it right HERE if you want one. 

 

Okay then. That wasn't too difficult.