Music of note

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Alexey Marti
Travesia
(Independent)

Cuban-born percussionist Alexey Marti has become a tremendous addition to the New Orleans music scene since arriving in the city in 2008. His rhythmic talents have contributed to a special spirit on sets and/or recordings by some of this city’s giants including pianist/vocalist Davell Crawford, drummer Herlin Riley and percussionist Bill Summers. Soon after moving to the Crescent City, he startled an unsuspecting crowd with his power and musicianship when he was introduced leading his own band.

What listeners learn about Marti from his outstanding release, Travesia, is his huge talents beyond the congas, bongos and bata drums to the melodic side of his musical personality. This understanding begins with the opening, title cut that begins rather unexpectedly soft and slow. Its strong, memorable melody first wonderfully stated by the remarkable pianist Oscar Rossignoli remains the core of the tune that moves excitingly with a full contingent of rhythm instruments manned by drummer Julian Addison, djembe player Weedie Braimah, percussionist Curtis Pierre and headed by the leader Marti. Following a solo by saxophonist Brent Rose, who takes the tune out, Marti works aggressively on a solo of his own.

Marti artistically melds his Cuban roots with his adopted home’s jazz flavor on the celebratory original, “Bicycle.” Again, his compositional skills are evident in the happy, hummable tune’s instant, welcoming familiarity. “Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah…”

Travesia is a rhythmic, melodic, emotional and soulful pleasure from Alexey Marti who boasts all of those same qualities.

Stanton Moore
With You in Mind – The Songs of Allen Toussaint
(Cool Green Recordings)

Drummer Stanton Moore, pianist David Torkanowsky and bassist James Singleton, who had been gigging and touring as a jazz trio for several years, planned to head into the studio in the fall of 2015 to record a follow-up to their fine 2014, premiere release, Conversations. Then they heard that the renowned, pianist, composer, producer and arranger Allen Toussaint had died suddenly on November 10, 2015. They immediately felt compelled to dump their plans to record an album of original material and instead pay tribute to Toussaint, with whom they had all worked and, like millions around the world, admired. The aim was to revisit some of the legend’s classic compositions and reinterpret them with new arrangements and rhythms. The result was With You in Mind – The Songs of Allen Toussaint that was fully released on July 29, 2017 though audiences have been enjoying tastes of the album for several months.

The three called in many of their musical friends – all eager to participate in the project – to join them. The album kicks off with one of Toussaint’s many lively numbers, “Here Come the Girls” that was first recorded by Ernie K-Doe. Cyril Neville takes over the lead vocal duties with a pumped up horn section that includes Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, who also recorded the tune on his latest release, Parking Lot Symphony,” trombonist Mark Mullins, saxophonists Skerik and Aaron Fletcher. With background vocalists – Erika Falls and Jolynda Kiki Chapman – and extra percussion including master Mike Dillon, aces Moore, Torkanowsky and Singleton has all it needs to get the album off in high gear.

For those who might expect an album in tribute to Allen Toussaint to predominately feature the piano, an instrument on which he reigned among New Orleans great pianists, it is important to mention that the focus of the album, as its title suggests, is on Toussaint the profoundly prolific composer who wrote hit after hit for artists like K-Doe, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas and on and on.

While Torkanowsky is in on all of the album’s action, the spotlight finally shines on the pianist on the beautifully moving title cut, “With You in Mind” on which he is backed simply by cohorts Moore and Singleton. Torkanowsky’s piano captures the elegance that was Allen Toussaint. Toussaint’s departure makes this lovely tune that much more emotionally significant, a mood that is tonally enriched by Singleton’s selectively and sparingly placed bass notes.

The genius of Allen Toussaint is lovingly remembered on With You In Mind – The Songs of Allen Toussaint by musicians who share his spirit and devotion to New Orleans.

This article originally published in the July 24, 2017 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.