Last month I wrote about a new release from Eric Krasno and Stanton Moore called "Book Of Queens." Here is the intro of that post:
"Long time readers know that I have been singing the praises of Stanton Moore for over twenty years. The first time I saw him behind the drums was at an in-store performance at the Louisiana Music Factory, showcasing the music from his 2001 release "Flyin' The Koop." It changed my life. Not just because it was music that seemed new to me, having only been to New Orleans twice at this point and still oblivious to that special mix of funk, jazz and soul that is rarely replicated in any other city, but as a drummer, because while most musicians strive to be better, once I saw Stanton play, I wanted to trade my kit in for a kazoo."
To say that I plan trips to New Orleans around seeing Stanton Moore perform is not a lie. His music is some of my very favorite music out of that city and the records he recorded with his organ trio, which includes Robert Walter on organ and Will Bernard on guitar, stand out as some of the very best from any city.
This week, those three organ trio records have been made available in extremely limited vinyl editions for the very first time. A small run of 200 is now ready to grab on Stanton's website.
The first, actually Stanton's third solo record, "III" is a masterpiece of Meters-inspired funk and soul. I witnessed the live rehearsal of the entire album at a midnight show in Preservation Hall on May 1st, 2006, less than a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. To be in that small room with these musicians and a small group of lucky people was one of the most moving experiences of my musical life. And hearing "When The Levee Breaks" close out the first set in light of recent events, left the crowd frozen on their benches.
"Emphasis (On Parenthesis)" follows the same pattern, though lays back a bit, giving it more of a late 60's, Blue Note feel, like a Freddie Roach or Big John Patton session, while "Groove Alchemy," the most aptly named of three, showcases Moore's often otherworldly skills on the kit. Both Robert Walter and Will Bernard are in fine form on all three.
These releases were a surprise. They weren't announced prior to the email that said, "Here they are!" I love these records, as they represent some amazing New Orleans moments from a time when most of the world had written that city off. But I don't think my personal history with the city or Stanton Moore has anything to do with just how great the music is. It just makes it more special.
6 comments:
Totally agree re Stanton's lps and these three in particular. And, its actually not that bad of a deal, given that all 3 are $100 and its a very limited run. Might grab 3 for myself (but the damn shipping costs overseas add another $30 to the mix).
Thanks so much for the heads up. Just snagged a set.
Wonderful! Stanton is so good, and his trio members are outstanding as well. I've got a couple of Robert Walter's albums and caught him in concert a few times. Definitely worth seeing.
- Paul in DK
Wow. So much great music ( and feeling) in such a short time. Very envious that you have seen them live. Sounds like a transformative experience! Not many concerts do that to me any more. Go well, and thanks for the links.
Side note to this: I saw Roger Waters last night and Robert Walter is one of the keyboard players on the tour, though with all of the video stuff and the stage being in the middle of the arena floor, it wasn't easy to distinguish the players from my nose-bleed seat. I expect this tour pays better than his other gigs.
Drummer was Joey Waronker who played well, but was too high in the mix.
- Paul in DK
I love what he does with the drums on "When the Levee Breaks"!
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