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.
In September, around the six-month mark of the pandemic shutdowns, trumpeter James Andrews ended a conversation with Gambit on an optimistic note.
Earlier this year, Andrews released a book with Monique Bornstein, âBorn in The Treme,â and he was touring Europe when the shutdowns began. He scrapped the tour and got one of the last flights back from France. After that, he said, it was just a âdomino effectâ of lost work: Music venues closed, regular gigs were canceled and then the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and French Quarter Festival were first postponed and eventually called off.
Andrews was left in a âholding pattern.â But as the months ticked by, he started to work on new material and began performing small porch concerts or dropping into neighborhoods for small, physically distanced concerts.
ONLINE: Georgia Comes Alive
Bobby Rush
In many years runoff elections in Georgia would not inspire collective national hand-wringing, but as with much else in 2020 normal expectations can be jettisoned. Georgia Comes Alive is a livestream concert to promote voter participation in the Peach State s Jan. 5 runoff contest, but everyone else can just join in and enjoy a lot of fine music. It s your one time to see The Lame Ducks, an impromptu supergroup featuring Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), and a wide range of other performers should offer something for musical tastes from blues (such as Bobby Rush, pictured) to EDM and much in between. Make a donation at georgiacomesalive.com to receive a link to the stream.
No matter what side you re on, Georgia Comes Alive offers a fine way to spend a musical Boxing Day on Saturday, Dec. 26. Starting at 3 p.m., the virtual festival staged to promote voting in the state s senatorial runoff election features more than 50 artists, including Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Diplo, Portugal. The Man, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ben Folds, Los Lobos, Billy Strings, the all-star Lame Ducks and many more. Find it at GeorgiaComesAlive.com.
FRIDAY, DEC. 25
⢠Piano Virtuoso Reuel performs a special Christmas show at noon from Studios at Fischer in Texas, via Facebook and YouTube.
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• Robyn Hitchcock will spend part of his holiday online, playing Live From Sweet Home Quarantine with Emma Swift at 3 p.m. Tickets via stageit.com.
BCD Tofu House is screening drive-in movies and offering meal kits on Dec. 24-25. (keroism via Creative Commons/Flickr)
Dine at BCD Tofu s drive-in movie nights. Watch Jewish and Muslim comedians on Christmas. Attend a Kwanzaa Kuumba makers festival. Catch Chance the Rappers Chi-Town Christmas concert. Take an urban hike of architectural homes and sites. Or travel down Ed Ruscha s Sunset Blvd. without leaving home.
Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25; 5:30 and 8 p.m.
Meals on Wheels with Reels
BCD Tofu House
3575 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
Socially distanced movie nights come to the Wilshire location of BCD s parking lot. Get meal kits for three to four people plus entrance to a screening of