Album Reviews

This double LP compilation pressed on "tie dyed" colored vinyl includes previously released Mardi Gras Records recordings from the seven brass bands featured on this surprisingly entertaining set.

"Surprising" because this is "basic" in terms of its musical construct and it's meant for fronting a parade of revelers, known as a "second line" who march, boogie and dance behind, whether they are making their way to a party or a funeral (in New Orleans there often seems to be little difference between the two). In fact, it seems like the rest of the country is catching up because I read last week that Monty Python's "Look on the Bright Side of Life" from "The Life of Brian" is now the most popular song played at funerals!

Nonetheless, it works well too from a sitting position, in part because however this was recorded and from whatever source it was mastered at Nashville's Welcome to 1979 studios it sounds spacious, natural and almost outdoors, which is appropriate.

Trumpets, trombones, saxophones and a tuba-driven backbeat plus drums provide the core and drive of these brass bands, the most familiar of which is the Re-birth Brass Band. The group had an album out on Columbia Records in the 1980s. They open the set here with three tunes including the familiar "Do Watcha Wanna" from 1987. Also here are songs from Soul Rebels, Lil Rascals, Olympia Brass Band (formed in 1962), Treme Brass Band, and Hustlers Brass Band.

The covers by Treme Brass Band of "Grazing in the Grass" popularized by Hugh Masekela and "Apache" by New Birth Brass Band made famous by Jorgen Ingmann in America and The Shadows in the U.K. lay out the basic musical game plan all of these groups follow.

This double disc set is a great musical "pick me up" aided by a spacious, almost outdoors-like presentation and convincing instrumental timbres. Matt Sakakeeny, author of "Roll With It: Brass Bands In The Streets of New Orleans" provides useful annotation accompanying each track. United Record Pressing cooperated with four sides of quiet surfaces and "CJH" at Welcome to 1979 studios did a good job mastering from whatever source.