805 Dr. John - Dr. John’s Gumbo (1972)

 805 Dr. John - Dr. John’s Gumbo (1972)

Studio Album - Rhythm And Blues



About the Act:

Dr John was a singer, musician and songwriter from New Orleans, who was an important part of the New Orleans music scene for many years. He started as career in music as a teenager, and switched from guitar to piano after getting shot in the finger. After sessioning for a while, he developed an act under the persona Dr John which involved a live spectacle that was reminiscent of Voodoo practices. After doing that for a while he settled down to do Boogie-Woogie style Rhythm and Blues, then funk for a while, and generally embraced a New Orleans Blues/Jazz style. He has created a large number of albums: studio, live and compilations, and guested on over 2000 albums by other artists. He died in 2019.


About the Album:

This was Dr John's fifth studio album, and came as a shift from his voodoo personality into traditional New Orleans songs, in fact all but one track on the album is a cover. It has been well-regarded both critically and commercially.


My History with this Album:

None


Review:

Oh, yes, oh yes. So, this style of boogie-woogie rhythm and blues piano playing is very familiar to me, as a fan of Jools Holland. For many, this shortcut to what the music is like may be helpful, as Jools has been quite successful. It's bouncy and enjoyable and full of life.

The songs are pretty much traditional New Orleans songs, some of which I know and recognise, some of which are new to me. It opens with Iko Iko, one of my favourites of this type of thing. I have had a mild obsession with this song since I first heard it (performed by Natasha England) and since I discovered there are a plethora of different renditions of it, quite varied in style. I know Stacker Lee (sometimes Stagger Lee), and possibly Let The Good Times Roll (although it seems quite different from what I know).  

The piano playing is excellent, as are the rest of the instruments. It's confident and enjoyable. The singing is growly and at times almost indecipherable, but that also fits with the music well. It's an excellent collection, it works well as an album and I love it. If you like Jools Holland's stuff over the last 20 years there is a high chance you will like this as much as I do. Stonking.


8/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/15jDv2HgLoilWgd4KWaLQn

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTOrvx7SLrnkZP-JkmbBEi_nQE2d5OEHV

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._John%27s_Gumbo



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