Walter Wolfman Washington Howlin' Live At DBA New Orleans

More than a few years ago, Walter Wolfman Washington and the Roadmasters had a limited edition live recording. Also several sets from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival have been released through JazzFest Live. Now Frenchman Street Records has issued a new live recording (and also the first official Wolfman and the Roadmasters release in a number of years), Howlin' Live At DBA New Orleans (Frenchmen Street Records), capturing them at their regular Frenchmen Street club gig..

  Photo © Ron Weinstock

 

The Frenchmen Street club, d.b.a. is one of Wolfman’s musical homes and it is nice to capture what is likely a typical night of soulful blues and funk. In addition to his guitar and vocals, he is backed by his long-time bassist Jack Cruz; drummer, Wayne Maureau; saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter; and Antonio Gambrell on trumpet with rapper Blac Roi joining on one track.

Listening to Wolfman and the Roadmasters run through songs from over two decades of recording and longer performing, one is impressed by the tight, if occasionally ragged sound. The two horns of Carpenter and Gambrell provide punch with their riffs and solos while Wolfman, with his gravelly blues shouting and jazz-inflected blues guitar is a true original, as he sings I’m Tip Toeing Through; Girl I Want to Dance; Blue Moon Risin’; and Stop and Think. He also is able to mix his graveling growl with a gospel shout on the rendition of Bobby Bland’s Ain’t That Lovin’ You.

Nicely recorded, Howlin' Live At DBA New Orleans” is not simply a nice souvenir for those who see (or have seen) him live, but also solid representation of Wolfman's music. Recommended.

I purchased this from the Louisiana Music Factory, louisianamusicfactory.com. Here is a video of Wolfman live.