Tom McDermott's Bamboula

While thought of a ragtime and traditional new Orleans jazz pianist, Tom McDermott is a pianist who resists such easily categorization. Certainly his performances of a Scott Joplin rag or a Jelly Roll Morton stomp as well as his playing in various classic New Orleans ensembles might foster that view  However, we are talking about a person also conversant with the classical-blues-funk fusion of one James Carroll Booker and very adept at the Brazilian cousin of ragtime, Choro. To the previous items,  add that McDermott is as intriguing a composer as a marvelous pianist. Some of you may be aware of him from his appearances on the HBO drama Tremé.

This leads us to a marvelous retrospective of recordings by McDermott over a span from 1994 to 2011, Bamboula (Minky Records). This was curated by Van Dykes Parks, a person of certain fame himself. In his brief appreciation of McDermott, Parks compares McDermott to the pioneering New Orleans composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk. In the manner the rhythms of Congo Square marked that composer's work, the rhythms of Cuba and Latin America similarly infuse the work of McDermott. This recording contains 16 selections from albums by McDermott. They include solo selections, duets and marvelous ensemble recordings with his close musical associate Evan Christopher, trombonist Rick Trolsen and several Brazilian musicians.

I can't think of a better McDermott recording to make casual listeners better take note than the title track, his marvelous arrangement of Gottschalk's most famous composition. It is performed at a brisk tempo with with an irresistible hot rhythm with McDermott's fluid and clean ragtime-laced playing along with marvelous trombone and clarinet. Opulence contrasts with its stately classical flavor with some lovely soprano sax. This track is followed by a playful ragtime-flavored duet with Christopher, Irresitîvel. On Scott Joplin's Heliotrope Bouquet, McDermott steps away from the piano as Christopher and Trolsen are supported by the Brazilian string players (Caio Marcio is outstanding on seven-string guitar). Patrick Harison's accordion supplies a gypsy jazz flavor to Musette in A Minor.

For Brenda is a lovely original rag on which McDermott, with his lovely playing, evokes the graceful charm of Joplin.  The interplay with Christopher on another duet, La Manege Rouge, displays their empathy for each other. Its back to Brazil for a rendition of Joplin's The Chrysanthemum with fresh rhythmic accents, while another duet with Christopher, Tango Ambiguo, (translated as ambiguous tango) with its subdued tempo is especially lovely. Lost Rio is a wistful solo piano performance, while the closing Santa Teresa is another spirited original choro with wonderful playing by his Brazilian and New Orleans associates (Henry Lentino is scintillating on bandolin). 

Van Dyke Parks has curated a terrific introduction to Tom McDermott's recordings on Bamboula. The sixteen selections provide listeners a chance to experience the depth and range of McDermott's piano playing and compositions. I would not be surprised if this leads many to delve further into his recordings and music. Highly recommended.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of Tom McDermott & Evan Christopher performing duets at the New Orleans Record Store, Louisiana Music Factory.

 

More French Quarter Festival Images

Gypsy Jazz Guitarist Tony Green

Here is another installment of images from this year’s French Quarter Festival.

Couple of swing dancers at Tony Green and Gypsy Jazz 

Zazou City bringing interesting musical sounds

Hot 8 Brass Band

Some soul and blues from Brother Tyrone

Tuba Player From the Orleans Brass Band

One of my favorite New Orleans pianists, Tom McDermott who was playing with Tim Laughlin

After All These Years McDermott and Christopher are Almost Native

It is easy to label both pianist Tom McDermott and clarinetist Evan Christopher as traditional jazz musicians, but both transcend that simple label.McDermott, a pianist rooted in ragtime and Jelly Roll Morton, has also become renown for his interpretations of the Brazilian choro idiom and the music of New Orleans legend James Booker. Christopher has become one of the most highly regarded clarinet players today and is a 2011 Jazz Journalists Association nominee, who has also exhibited abilities to excel beyond traditional jazz as evident by his European gypsy jazz recordings and his intriguing interpretations of modern jazz including a marvelous medley of Ornette Coleman’s Lonely Woman and Ramblin’, and John Coltrane’s After The Rain.

The new album by the pair, Almost Native (Threadhead Records) takes it title from the fact that someone asked Tom if he was born in New Orleans, and after he answers he moved there in 1984, they respond, “”Oh, well you’re almost a native then.” This latest recording is a duo recording of originals by the pair, eight by McDermott, and two by Christopher that displays the considerable empathy between them which enhances the lyricism at root of both their styles.

The music moves from the wistfulness of the opening Tango Ambiguo (Ambiguous Tango), the indigo charm of Christopher’s slow Waltz For All Souls which evokes George Lewis’ bluesy playing, the raggy playfulness of Le Manège Rouge (The Red Merry-Go-Round), to the the atmospheric Spooky Blues (For Booker)/Quite Enough Blues, with McDermott’s spare, restrained playing effectively setting the mood. There is a bit of cheeky humor for “The Don’t-Mess-With-My Two-Step, a piano solo, followed by a delightful and playful, Chorando Em Paris (Playing Choro In Paris). The last original recording here is a march, March of the Pony Girls, which exhibits all the warmth and humor the two exhibit throughout this.

A bonus track, the lively Irresistível (Irresistible), derives from McDermott’s New Orleans Duets and concludes a thoroughly charming recording. It is available from www.louisianamusicfactory.com, cdbaby, itunes and other sources. Tom McDermott’s website is www.mcdermottmusic.com and Evan Christopher's website is www.clarinetroad.net. 

Evan Christopher and Tom McDermott doing an in-store performance
at the Louisiana Music Factory on Decatur Street in New Orleans.

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. 

2008 JazzFest Day 3

Continuing my write-up of the music I saw in New Orleans the last week of April, 2008, here is the portion devoted to Day 3. The earlier days were all covered in the prior two blog entries. This whole account can be found in the June 2008 Jazz & Blues Report which you can download as a pdf file from that publication's website.


The weather forecast Sunday was even less promising than Saturday, but the morning was sunny, so I ventured back to the Fairgrounds where my first stop was Lionel Ferbos, who made it and led his band through several vintage numbers including the old classic ballad, 'Try a Little Tenderness,’ that was refreshing to hear in its pre-Otis Redding form. On the way to the Blues Tent, the Paulin Brothers Brass band kept alive the legacy of their day, Doc Paulin, who died relatively recently. Into the Blues Tent to catch Little Freddie King who was getting down with his boogie and tend a bit of hot zydeco from Willis Prudhomme on the Fais do Do stage before catching pianist and songwriter David Egan (he has written for so many, and has a gritty vocal style). I stopped in Economy Hall to hear the excellent group led by clarinetist Tim Laughlin that included Tom McDermott (a marvelous ragtime rooted pianist who is a superb Jelly Roll Morton interpreter) and cornetist Connie Jones for some first class music, and with the clouds gathering, I headed to the blues tent to catch Larry Garner, with special guest Henry Gray. Garner’s music, full of wit and irony was delivered in his convincing, understated style before he brought the former Howlin’ Wolf pianist Gray who perhaps carries on the legacy of Big Maceo better than anyone still alive. One last musical stop for me to catch Leroy Jones, trumpeter with Harry Connick and others with an entertaining set. With the crowds getting ominous, I left. regretfully I missed Tab Benoit and the Voices of the Wetlands All Stars with r. John and Cyril Neville amongst others as well as Davell Crawford’s New Orleans Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, perhaps the two acts I would have wanted to see the most. The rains likely dampened some enthusiasm but after I headed back to my hotel, the music continued with such names as Irma Thomas, Nicholas Payton and Pete Fountain holding forth and the closing acts that day (for those hardier than I) included Tim McGraw, Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint, Al Green and Beausoleil. Even this shortened day did not prevent me from getting a good sampling of music.


I have been told that the weather was better the second weekend and among the performers for those four days included Bonerama, Widespread Panic, Randy Newman, Deacon John, Donald Harrison, Mem Shannon,Bettye LaVette, Steve Riley, C.J. Chenier, Papa Grows Funk, Art Neville, Stevie Wonder, John Prine, Trombone Shorty, John Boutté, The Lee Boys, John Hammond, Belton Richard, D. L. Menard, Terence Blanchard, The Subdudes, Jimmy Buffett, Diana Krall, Steel Pulse, The Bad Plus, John Mooney, Pinstripe Brass Band, Geno Delafose, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk, Santana, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, Galactic, The Radiators, Dianne Reeves, Jonathan Batiste, Snooks Eaglin, Derek Trucks, and The Neville Brothers. My protestations of the booking major pop acts does not change the fact that there is so much still to enjoy of the culture and food of New Orleans and Louisiana.