Enjoying New Orleans’ musical talent
10th November 2014 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet
The 21st Century Trad Band
(Basin Street Records)
Jason Marsalis was first recognized as a drummer when, as a child, he began working with his father, pianist/educator Ellis Marsalis and then with his brother, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis. Greater recognition was gained when the highly esteemed pianist Marcus Roberts asked him to join his trio, a group Jason has recorded and toured with extensively and a relationship that continues to flourish today. It was because of his commitment to Roberts that the drummer left the very successful ensemble Los Hombres Calientes that he co-founded with trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and percussionist Bill Summers. In 1998 Jason put out his first album under his own name, Year of the Drummer, that, like his subsequent releases, were on the local Basin Street Records.
It wasn’t until 2000 that Jason, 37, began digging into the vibes, an instrument seemingly waiting for his attention since he obtained one during his high school years. In 2013, he released the very solid World of Mallets, his second album leading a band while standing behind the vibes instead of sitting behind a drum set. It strongly indicated that he was serious about his new endeavor.
On The 21st Century Trad Band, Marsalis proves that he has definitely hit his stride as a vibraphonist and composer and has further solidified his Vibes Quartet. It is the same group of eager guys with pianist Austin Johnson, bassist Will Goble and drummer David Potter who were with Marsalis on the previous album. On the new disc, the ensemble continues to expand on the spirit of adventure they previously displayed.
It’s immediately apparent that everything is clicking with Marsalis and his group on his totally comprehensive and driving tune “Offbeat Personality.” It contains the jazz essentials — imagination, energy, musicianship, inventiveness, thoughtfulness — that feed the body and soul. Humor comes into play on the rhythmically quirky “The Man with Two Left Feet.” Its musical illustration is so complete, it’s easy to imagine some guy clumsily lumbering around.
The title cut, another number filled with humor, romps along during an album filled with happy moments. All of the musicians contribute not only their instrumental talent but compositions to the recording including the romantic ballad “Blessed Unrest” by Goble that beautifully displays Marsalis’ mastery of the mallets and his ability to produce tones that ring and sing with great purity. Pianist Austin Johnson’s tune, “Calm Before the Storm,” allows drummer Potter to take the lead which he does with great attention to tonality. These guys all have big ears.
There’s a certain joyfulness that permeates The 21st Century Trad Band, the title of which doesn’t refer to playing New Orleans traditional jazz in a modern way but reflecting its continuum. The album’s playful attitude is evident time and time again even during its most serious moments. It is even reflected in the disc’s cover and inside illustrations where Jason and the bandmembers are hilariously depicted as superheroes.
When it comes to the Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet’s extraordinary powers and ability to fly, the comical images aren’t too far of a leap.
Big Freedia Bounces into the Central City Festival
On Saturday, November 1, the Ashé Cultural Arts Center celebrates the 8th anniversary of its Central City Festival in a, well, big and maybe even historic way. Big Freedia, New Orleans own Queen of Bounce arrives at the festival site on the 1600 and 1700 blocks of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard to shake things up booty-wise. Another aim of Freedia’s 4:30 pm appearance is for the hometown crowd, the innovators and first to jump on the bounce bandwagon, to have the opportunity to beat a Guinness World Record set in 2013 in New York City (New York City!?) for the most people twerking at one time. That event took place during a publicity spot for Freedia’s Fuse television reality show. Now Freedia’s homegirls and homeboys should be able to beat out what is described to be “hundreds” of twerkers.
Coming on at 3:30 p.m., right before Freedia is The Honorable South a New Orleans modern day, electric soul and rock ‘n roll group led by the intriguing vocalist and songwriter Charm Taylor. Drummer Jamal Batiste, who at a recent show added his punch to Los Hombres Calientes’ incredible percussion section with Bill Summers and Alexey Marti, guarantees the funk ‘n soul of the band.
Other performances include a youth dance competition that will be held at noon, gospel from the 1st Emanuel Baptist Church Choir at 1:30 p.m. followed by a street parade at 2:15 p.m. by Casa Samba and starting at 3 p.m., the Viva Venezuela Showcase.
The free festival begins at 10 am and ends with a second line that begins at 5:15 p.m. led by the Free Agents Brass Band teamed with the Young Men Olympian Jr. Benevolent Society that this year remarkably celebrated its 130th anniversary.
This article originally published in the November 10, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
