A galloping thumb piano ushers in a thumping bass while tribal drums roll and tumble behind a moaning clarinet, creating the ominous intro to “West African Strut”. Centuries of Africa’s influence on Jazz are brilliantly encapsulated thusly by Dr. Michael White and his ensemble in less than 45 seconds. Before you know it, the song’s intro has morphed into a joyous Dixieland romp. In many ways this opening salvo is all it takes to make clear that this isn’t just another Dixieland record. Indeed, the first word of the album title indicates quite clearly that this is to be an adventure.
To be sure, there are a handful of traditional New Orleans Jazz tunes here. But even the old war horses are re-animated and invigorated by the sparkling performances of Cynthia Girtley (“Careless Love”) and Gregory Stafford (“Basin Street Blues”). Their contributions crackle with life and a soul-deep passion that cannot be taught or learned, only born into and cultivated down through generations of New Orleans’ musical families that are driven by their love and respect for tradition. The obligatory standards aside, the real sparks fly from White’s clever remakes of non-Jazz material. Though the traditional rhythms of Reggae and Jazz are quite different, White and his band make Bob Marley’s “One Love” sound like it’s been waiting for years to be played by a Dixieland band. Drummer Herman Lebeaux deserves special mention here, as he lays down the smooth groove that holds together Marley’s tune as it segues almost unnoticeably into a happy medley with Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”.
Dr. White leads the charge throughout without ever hogging the spotlight. His sly clarinet weaves in and out of the sweet melodies like a needle and thread stitching the crucial seams that hold it all together. From somber funeral march to raucous roadhouse stomp, Dr. Michael White’s re-delivery of the happy magic that is New Orleans Jazz resonates with the full spectrum of human emotion. As all good New Orleans Jazz should, the album-closing rendition of Paul Simon’s “Take Me To The Mardi Gras” feels like a tipsy stroll down Bourbon Street with all the sights, sounds and smells of celebration tingling your senses, twisting your body and moving your feet to the festive rhythms.
[This review originally appeared on Crawdaddy.com in June 2011. –rh]
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