New Orleans music got soul, soul, soul plus funk, jazz and a bit of hilarity

25th June 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Derrick Freeman and James Martin
SOUL
(Independent)

It’s apparent that Derrick Freeman likes to keep busy. The longtime drummer with trumpeter Kermit Ruffins & the Barbeque Swingers, Freeman leads and has recorded with his own band, Smokers World, and in 2015 he established the Soul Brass Band, surprisingly the trap set drummer’s first venture into the brass band tradition. Many of the musicians in that group jumped onboard Freeman’s latest endeavor, an ensemble that simply sports his and co-leader, saxophonist James Martin’s names as a handle. SOUL stands as the team’s debut recording and certainly as a strong start.

Martin, a graduate of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) who went on to attend Loyola University, first gained recognition as a member of Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews’ band. He penned the first groove of the lead-off tune, “Something’s Gotta Give.” It’s a complete package with all the soul essentials — smart lyrics, solid lead vocals by its composer, a B-3 organ manned by Nigel Hall, a well-arranged horn section and naturally a compelling backbeat provided by Freeman. Martin also shows his flair for bringing his jazz sensibilities to the table during his solo.

Funk man Freeman’s vocals on “Soul with a Capitol S,” are, to say the least and as expected, much grittier. The songs contain elements from soul/funk heroes like James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone and Funkadelic that create a fun dance party and a trip back to the future.

It’s time to mention a few of the guys in the horn section that do such a terrific job. They include trumpeter Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown, trombonist Michael Watson, both members of the Soul Brass Band, saxophonist Kris Royal, sousaphonist Steven Glenn or Kirk Joseph and more. As a co-leader, it’s understandable that Martin is most often featured as a soloist. He’s up for the job.

The voice of a female vocalist, Arsene Delay, offers a much appreciated, different tonal quality to the project. She displays a certain authenticity as she trades off the spotlight leads and mixes it up with Freeman on yet another original tune, “Maintain Composure.” On the disc, there are only three out of eight non-originals — Nirvana’s hit, “In Bloom,” done instrumentally, Lou Rawl’s chart-topper, “Groovy People” and the “Family Feud” theme song. Yes, you read that right. Actually, some folks might agree that the new tunes beat out the covers in almost every aspect.

Derrick Freeman is a serious musician and a seriously humorous guy. His “Grandma Cunningham” is simply hilarious both lyrically and in his delivery. “No Facebook or Instagram,” better send a telegram,’ he sings early on in the tune then, imitating the words of Grandma Cunningham, he offers, “Go in there and wash your hands!” There’s lots more of that kind of lingo throughout while guitarist Danny Abel gets some room to show off his chops. It’s also got this unusual plodding rhythm that just adds to the hilarity.

The mood changes, when trombonist Watson steps to the microphone to sing “Flow,” that leans toward contemporary rhythm and blues set off by the addition of percussionist Luke Quaranta. The horn section is again in sync with Watson’s softly executed vocals.

Freeman and Martin is a combo that draws on each of these musicians’ strengths. On SOUL, you’ve got funk, groove and jazz with a measure of well-thought out arrangements and, yes, a bit of hilarity.

Summer – Good for Early Evening Music Early in the Week

In the winter months when it starts getting dark sometime around 5 p.m., it’s often easier to call it a day and snuggle in at home rather than go out and hear music. The longer daylight hours of summer, which officially began on June 21, offers the opportunity to head out in the evening while it’s still light and check out the shows that begin as early as 7 p.m. like the much loved vocalist John Boutte’s sets on Mondays at d.b.a or the regular 8 p.m. shows at Snug Harbor.

The beginning of the week, rather than the weekends can be especially appealing to check out some sounds as often there is a more layback feel at favorite musical destinations like Frenchmen Street than on weekends that can sometimes can feel over-bustling. Parking is also a lot easier, too.

This Tuesday night, June 26, at Snug Harbor offers the opportunity to hear three of this city’s major up-and-coming musicians with a trio led by the brilliant pianist Oscar Rossignoli. A native of Honduras, Rossignoli first came to Louisiana to study music at LSU and later at UNO and now remains a solid force on the New Orleans jazz scene. The pianist and his rhythm section with bassist Jasen Weaver and drummer Gerald Watkins, who are also members in what could be described as yet another stunning next generation of this city’s jazz artists, will be working on the pianist’s original material and standards as well as performing works by our own talented legends Harold Batiste, James Black and Ellis Marsalis.

At this writing, Rossignoli was in Huntington, West Virginia, as one of the seven finalists, out of 160 who entered, vying for a win at the first ever Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition.

This article originally published in the June 25, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.