I mentioned in last week's vinyl post, as well in a few previous posts, that I have been listening to a lot of music off my iPod lately. I have been so immersed in vinyl, the business (and lack of it), that I completely forgot about all the great music I have at my finger tips that is not available on vinyl. This is how I stumbled upon the Yockamo All-Stars.
I first discovered this CD in New Orleans, probably 2000 or 2001. I was buying everything I could carry at the time, reading the backs of every CD, searching for names, drummers, horn players, vocalists, anyone who had made music I loved. The Yockamo All-Stars was a supergroup in my eyes.
The lineup includes "The Groovemeister," Herlin Riley on drums, Walter Payton (Nicholas Payton's dad) on bass, June Yamagishi who has played with everyone from The Wild Magnolias, the Funky Meters and the Nightcrawlers on guitar, and an A-list horn section that includes Reggie Houston, Clarence Johnson III, Tim Green, Leroy Jones and Craig Klein.
Now I realize these names might mean very little to those not plugged into the New Orleans music scene. But trust me, there are few musicians out there who are better than these cats right here.
The CD, "Dew Drop Out," is self-described as a "New Orleans Second-Line R&B Jam" on the back tray card. I can't argue with that, or come up with anything better.
I did about three minutes of half-assed research and couldn't find "Dew Drop Out" streaming anywhere. But thankfully, there is plenty to listen to on YouTube.
"Dew Drop Out" has been a favorite for years. I can't believe I went without hearing it for as long as I did. It picks me up and drops me down into a smokey, late night juke joint, the Dew Drop Inn, of course, one of the places to be on the chitlin' circuit in the late 40's through the early 60's, where you could hear Little Richard, Ray Charles, Fats Domino and so many more.
Hope ya dig it.
11 comments:
Thanks for this Sal. Speaking of Reggie Houston, do you know his great album 'Urgin' for the Virgin?'. It seems to have been recorded around the same time as 'Dew Drop Out'. Anyway, always love your New Orleans posts as there is always something new to learn.
If I recall correctly, there was just one gig with that line-up (think it was at Donna's), right when the cd dropped. Then, due to everyone's schedule with other bands, nothing else happened. Great cd, that I actually took with me to Spain. Now, I just have to get a cd player.
Oh yes, please! I just wanna listen to this stuff all day. Thanks for the “Drop”, Sal.
Great tip, Sal. These tracks are a ton of fun.
- Paul in DK
Really great stuff. Love it!!
I definitely dig it. Sadly, no vinyl.
Randy
They sound great! Sign me up as a fan!
Captain Al
I couldn't find it on Amazon or Ebay so if you ever find an additional copy let me know, I'll purchase it.
Sweet. I stumbled onto this one while picking up my order at a one-stop called Abbey Road. Since 1987, I had been buying wholesale to support my newfound CD habit. I also sold to other voracious collectors. But it was just for fun. I made some friends there when I paid my bi-weekly visits. Through the mid 1990's they allowed customers in the warehouse to pick their own orders. Then they got absorbed by Alliance and moved from Santa Ana to Sante Fe Springs. The new regime didn't allow clients to pick their own orders. They established a dress code for all sales reps, much to the chagrin of employees. It was like the bad guys took over. One day I was waiting in their sales office for my box of CD's to get picked when the Rykodisc sales rep walked in. I knew the guy because he was the brother of a photographer who I worked with. The guy was somewhat of a jazz snob but neither one us held it against each other. We greeted and hugged. At some point he told me he had something I'd like. He went to his car and returned with a Yockamo All-Stars disc which was distributed by Ryko. He understood my tastes. I forgot about it till Sal resurrected it. Great players, loose vibe. Thanks Sal.
VR
One of many treasured N.O. related CD's I'm lucky to own. Allan Rosenberg - there are plenty of not at all expensive copies on Discogs.
I didn't mind the horns. ;)
Post a Comment