The New Orleans Catahoulas Homegrown

The New Orleans Catahoulas
Homegrown
Self-produced

According to their website, "The New Orleans Catahoulas (cat-a-hoo-las) feature All-Star New Orleanians performing the music of legendary Rhythm and Blues artists of the 1950-60s such as Smiley Lewis, Fats Domino, Lee Dorsey, Ernie K-Doe, Chris Kenner, and many others. The Catahoulas aim to bring back the nearly forgotten music of that era and expose these sounds and rhythms to both new and seasoned ears, which will encourage further exploration of New Orleans' deep musical history." The group' consists of Joshua Gouzy - bandleader, bass, vocals; Gerald French - drums, lead vocals; Steven Troy- piano and vocals; Kevin Louis - trumpet, vocals; Earl Bonie - tenor sax; Oliver Bonie - baritone & alto sax; Oliver Bonie -baritone & alto sax; and Bert Cotton - guitar.

"Homegrown" may not be a profound musical statement. Still, it certainly is a fun recording that covers a variety of songs from the 1950s and 1960s opening with Earl King's "Come On," which is better known as "Let the Good Times Roll." This recording includes some classics and lesser-known tunes associated with Snooks Eaglin, Papa Alfred French (Gerald's grandfather), Little Walter, Dave Bartholomew, Alvin' Shine' Robinson, Paul Barbarin, and Danny Barker.

Gerald French capably handles most of the vocals with his strongest performances perhaps being on "Shrimp and Gumbo" (Dave Bartholomew's reworking of "Mambo 5") and Alvin Robinson's "Down Home Girl." "Shrimp and Gumbo" features some spectacular playing by Kevin Lewis and a choice Latin-tinged piano solo. Louis takes a very capable vocal on the opening "Let the Good Times Roll," which also has Cotton evoking Earl King's guitar. There is also some superb playing from the horns on Papa Albert French's "Bald Headed Beulah."

The weakest performance is on "Bourbon Street Parade," with a fair vocal that does not sound like French and otherwise uncredited. Pianist Troy ably handles the vocal on "Walking to New Orleans," with an outstanding tenor sax solo from Earl Bonnie. Danny Barker's Mardi Gras Indian song "Tootie Ma" closes this album with an exuberant second-line groove. French also introduces the band members on this selection. This tune caps a welcome, wonderfully played and sung recording of classic New Orleans R&B songs. "Homegrown" is available as a download from Bandcamp at https://catahoulasnola.bandcamp.com/album/homegrown. One can also check out the band's website https://www.catahoulasnola.com.

I purchased this as a download from Bandcamp. Here is a short set of The New Orleans Catahoulas performing at WWOZ.