Luther Kent's Bobby Bland Songbook

Veteran New Orleans singer Luther Kent gets to pay his homage to one of his idols on his new Vetter Communications disc, The Bobby Bland Songbook. Kent has been a devotee of Bland since as a 13 year old he caught Bland backed by the Joe Scott at a Baton Rouge club. The influence Bland had on him was reflected by him when talking about Bland and one of Kent’s greatest memories being on a Riverboat Cruise with B.B. King and Bland during a 1980s JazzFest.

Kent has always included a few songs from Bland and his contemporaries such as Little Milton in his set list for decades, but this disc is devoted solely to Bland’s music. Kent and Don Chesson have assembled a big band with the Creole Beethoven, Wardell Querzergue doing the arrangements and conducting the band.

Kent has selected a dozen of Bland’s more famous recordings from the period that is arguably his greatest period, the late fifties and early sixties recordings he made for Duke which includes such classics as Who Will the Next Fool Be, I Pity the Fool, Stormy Monday, Cry, Cry, Cry, St. James Infirmary, Don’t Cry No More, That’s the Way Love Is, and I Wouldn’t Treat a Dog. The performances are styled after Bland’s originals, in this sense he doesn’t reinvent them as much as Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall did on his own recent tribute, Salute to Bobby.

Querzergue adds his own characteristic touches to provide a fresh shine on the horn arrangements and Kent while reflecting Bland’s originals does put his own imprint on these recordings for a pretty solid recording, which understandably is somewhat overshadowed by the originals. I would have also liked to hear a few of Bland’s more recent recordings interpreted like Members Only, and You Got to Hurt Before You Heal, but that is a minor complaint.

Kent is a very good singer, although not on the level that Bland was back in this period (an out-of-print English Ace CD that had many of these original selections was aptly titled, The Voice).  This is a nice celebration by a fan of one of the great blues singers of the past fifty years. Its available at the Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans (they do mail order and their website, www.louisianamusicfactory.com), cdbaby.com and Amazon among various retailers.


I purchased this CD and this review appeared in the August 2009, Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 319).

Some JazzFest recommendations for Day 3 Sunday May 1

Lil Buck Sinegal

This is the final in my list of recommended shows for the first week of JazzFest, which is the weekend I am attending. I should mention that for those outside of New Orleans, WWOZ (wwoz.org) broadcasts selected concerts from the Festival and Monday May 1, they hold their annual Piano Night Fundraiser at the House of Blues, which is also broadcast.


11:15 AM in the Gospel Tent - Jo “Cool” Davis with guest James “Sugarboy” Crawford. The Gospel Tent features many great performers. Jo ‘Cool’ Davis is a singer that will suggest Bobby Bland for fans of blues and rhythm’n’blues, Special guest is James ‘Sugarboy’ Crawford, who led the cane Cutters and had a major hit with Jock-A-Mo, which folks may know as Iko-Iko. Crawford has given up secular music to sing gospel.

Luther Kent

12:20PM in the Blues Tent - Lil Buck Sinegal. After leading Lil Buck and the Gold Tops which included organist Stanley ‘Buckwheat Zydeco’ Dural, he played fort a number of years with zydeco king Clifton Chenier. A fine blues singer and guitarist, he is part of Buckwheat Zydeco’s band today. Its always a treat to see him play on his own.


12:30PM in the Jazz Tent - Jazz & Blues feat. Luther Kent, Phillip Manuel, and Big Al Carson. An intriguing appearnace together on stage of Bourbon Street staple, Big Al Carson; blues belter Luther Kent who once fronted Blood Sweat and Tears; and the smooth jazz vocal style of Manuel promises some musical fireworks.

Frankie Ford

12:50PM on the Gentilly Stage. Classic New Orleans Revue with Frankie Ford, Jean Knight and others. With the Blue Eyed Soul Band, Ford, who rocked the world with Sea Cruise for Ace Records in the 1950s and Knight, who had a smash hit with Mr. Big Stuff lead a revue to take folks back to the heydays of New Orleans rhythm and blues.

Tom McDermott and Evan Christopher

2:00PM at the Lagniappe Stage - Tom McDermott and Evan Christopher. McDermott is a marvelous pianist who can rag a Bach composition, make you think he studied under Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton as well as mesmerize you with his interpretations of Brazilian choros. Evan Christopher is a Jazz Journalists Association finalist for Jazz Clarinetist. He is rooted in the New Orleans clarinet tradition but also will play in a gypsy jazz context interpreting Ornette Coleman. He and McDermott make magic together when they are paired like at this set.

Deacon John at 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

3:00PM at the Gentilly Stage. Deacon John. Once a studio regular who grew up with music on the streets and in his home, Deacon John Moore can croon a standard with silky smoothness as well as revive an old The Spiders' classic I Didn't Want to Do It, or play slide guitar and revive Elmore James' Happy Home. A consummate entertainer, superb musican and singer, Deacon John always has tight bands that can jump an older Roy Brown classic as well as rework vintage B.B. King. His annual JazzFest performances are a treat. For recordings, sample Deacon John's Jump Blues. 

Red Baraat

5:55PM on the Jazz & Heritage Stage - Red Baraat. Led by Sunny Jain on the d’hol, hand held drum, Red Baraat superficially might be called Bollywood meets Bourbon Street, but in addition to the infectious grooves built upon Punjabi songs there is some strong solos. In addition to the leader, pay attention to the brilliant trumpeter, Sonny Singh and Mike Bomwell’s baritone sax. I have seen them at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and recently at the Kennedy Center, and I look forward to their joyous music with plenty of heart but also substance.