Various Artists – A New Orleans Visit: Before Katrina / Arhoolie CD-534

Description

 CD 534

In April of 2005 before Katrina devastated the city I visited New Orleans with Maureen Gosling and Chris Simon two filmmakers who are working on a documentary about Arhoolie Records. With the help of friends Jerry Brock Michael Doucet Lars Edegran and Benny Jones we were able to film some my favorite musicians in the Big Easy. However films seldom give you more than a taste of the music encountered and often take a long time to complete. So I decided to release two CDs with most of the marvelous impromptu sounds we were fortunate to catch.

This Arhoolie CD 534 brings you spontaneous performances by Michael and David Doucet who also back Miss Lollypop on her unique version of “Hey! La Bas.” Michael and David then join clarinetist Sammy Rimington singer and bass drummer Lionel Batiste Sr. and guitarist Lars Edegran. The great blues singer and pianist Henry Gray is here as well as Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes singing and playing accordion and harmonica backed by Michael Doucet on fiddle! Finally you get a live parade by the Black Men of Labor Social Club with music by the Tremè Brass Band augmented on this occasion by Sammy Rimington who has long been my favorite heir to the legacy of the late George Lewis.

The companion Arhoolie CD 532 is devoted entirely to the music of Sammy Rimington recorded live at the Palm Court with his own band and in the company of others noted above.
Chris Strachwitz – 2007

Michael & David Doucet
1. J’ai passé devant ta porte
2. La jog a plombeau
3. Hey! La Bas (Vocal: Miss Lollypop)
4. Malinda
5. Bosco Stomp
6. Tasso

Sammy Rimington & Michael Doucet
7. Creole Blues
8. I’m Alone Because I Love You (Vocal: Lionel Batiste Sr.)

Henry Gray
9. The Blues Won’t Let Me Take My Rest
10. Henry’s Bounce
11. The Little Red Rooster
12. Cold Chills

“Sunpie” Barnes and Michael Doucet
13. Zydeco Et La Encore
14. Joe Pitre Got Two Women (Joe Pitre Et Deux Femme)
15. Baby Please Don’t Go

Michael & David Doucet
16. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
17. I’ll Fly Away
18. Sing On

REVIEW

“A New Orleans Visit presents musicians playing in unusual configurations giving spontaneous and mostly unrehearsed performances sans overdubs…hearing [Michael] Doucet play in such a stripped-down configuration is probably the best way to savor his soulful brilliance…While there’s never any shortage of Louisiana pan-roots music offerings these days this has to be one of the most novel yet.”

-Dan Willging OffBEAT