nugs.net
Now here’s a no-brainer, boys and girls: good tunes for a good cause.
Down On The Bayou II brilliantly captures the sound and spirit of the all-star concert held on 4/29/10 to benefit the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and Assistance Foundation (NOMAF).
Widespread Panic keyboardist/vocalist JoJo Herman is at the core of the effort behind the Down On The Bayou concert series. In Herman’s words, “Down On The Bayou is an annual concert during JazzFest that brings top musicians together to pay tribute to New Orleans and the contributions this city and its musicians have made to the music we make and love today. The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic is a model for artist healthcare and we’re proud to support it.”
Herman is all over DOTB II, lighting the fuse on the two-disc collection with a kick-ass version of “Stagger Lee” from JoJo’s Mardi Gras Band and never looking back. Throughout the album he shares the stage with some very talented friends, including George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste, Big Chief Bo Dollis, Luther Dickinson, and the explosive Bonerama horns. Highlights include a nothing-but-nasty “Right Place Wrong Time”; a jammed-out-and-greasy “Love Slips Upon Ya”; and a touching, powerful version of “Big Chief” with Big Chief Bo Dollis himself leading the way.
Herman’s home team is on hand, with Panic pounding out “I Walk On Gilded Splinters”. (Wait until you hear the jam on that one: John Bell and Jimmy Herring do some fierce six-string bobbing and weaving before making room for guest Jimmy Carpenter to blow the living guts out of his sax.) Down On The Bayou II also includes a cut from the early version of 7 Walkers – with Reed Mathis in the bass slot now held by George Porter Jr. They take their time making their way through a Bill Kreutzmann-driven exploration that feels like it could explode into “The Other One” at any moment – only to have Mathis propel it into “Turn On Your Lovelight” when least expected.
Pianoman Jon Cleary ignites the spirit of Fats Domino on a bawdy “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” and channels Professor Longhair on a grin-‘til-your-face-falls-off version of “Tipitina” (featuring a wild-ass drum break by Russell Batiste Jr.). Batiste returns to the stage to join forces with percussionist Alfred “Uganda” Roberts and Gov’t Mule drummer Matt Abts as the Mule grind their way through a funky “32-20 Blues”.
Beautifully recorded and mixed, Down On The Bayou II is available only as a download on nugs.net, with all proceeds going to NOMC/NOMAF. My suggestion: lay hands to this and help a good cause. And while you’re at it, check out the line-up for this year’s DOTB III, to be held May 5 during JazzFest.
Seldom does one ever get to be so damn funky while doing the right thing.
