Bon soir, mes amis! Bienvenue à la Louisiana House Party!
For an hour a week, let’s stroll down Bourbon Street . . . soak in the sounds of Henry Butler and Big Chief Bo Dollis at the Funky Butt . . . stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the revelers at The Maple Leaf . . . recline in a pasture in Opelousas to the sound of Wayne Toups’ accordion and a thumping bass . . . and drip wet with sweat at Richard’s where the dancing pounds the ancient wood floor until the wee hours of the morning.
The Louisiana House Party gives voice to the rich heritage of jazz, funk, blues, Cajun and Zydeco music that is the collective memory of Louisiana.
Listening to this recording is similar to having a knowledgeable friend spin some tunes that fit together in many likely though not necessarily expected ways. It is a “mix tape” of sorts that features disparate artists such as conga master Poncho Sanchez as well as the late vocalist of Bourbon Street acclaim Big Al Carson. The common denominator here is, of course, the rhythm of the songs with Sanchez working on a lively version of “Going Back to New Orleans” written by Joe Liggins made hugely popular by Dr. John that includes some fine vocals by New Orleans’ own Ledisi. Meanwhile Big Al goes to the Hank Williams’ classic “Jambalaya,” that’s most associated with Cajun and zydeco music, though here has a distinctly Latin feel. All the material, which focuses on the Cuba’s influences on New Orleans’ unique beats, has previously been released on various albums.