The Essence Of The City

Although he is still going strong, this early 90s album by Dr John ( Goin' Back To New Orleans ) marks a culmination and a distillation of his career. Without labouring any concept album point, the music pays homage to the threads which permeate New Orleans music from Gottschalk through the very beginnings of jazz with Buddy Bolden, on to Louis Armstrong and then the Mardi Gras Indians, second line jazz funerals, Professor Longhair, the r 'n 'b of Fats Domino and Huey "piano" Smith and the craftsmanship of Allen Toussaint and the Neville Brothers. Not to mention Mac Rebennack himself. Dr John is on fine singing and piano playing form and is surrounded by the cream of New Orleans musicians including some of the aforementioned Nevilles. The whole album swings with that offbeat latin tinge so distinctive to the city with some incredibly propulsive drumming. Somehow in New Orleans the blues is never taken too seriously and there is always that upbeat optimistic love for life in the background. There is much humour on this record and I hope that light still burns fiercely somewhere post Katrina. If you are ever in need of cheering up, I recommend playing the track My Indian Red about the Mardi Gras Indian tribes and challenge you to keep still and to keep a smile off your face.