Various Artists: Live at the Little Gem Saloon

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Kevin Morris (b)
Kermit Ruffins (t)
Dr. Michael White (cl)
Gerald Watkins (d)
Shelley Spruill II (b)
Ronald Markham (p)
Devone Allison (ky)
Jameson Ledonio (g)
Jason Marsalis (vib)
Irvin Mayfield (t)
Jerry Barbarin Anderson (d)
Mark Brooks (b)
Jasen Weaver (b)
Yoshitaka ‘Z2’ Tsuji (p)
Bill Summers (perc)
Oscar Rossignoli (p)
Davell Crawford (p)
Leshawn Lee (d)
Seva Venet (bj)
Greggory Stafford (t)

Label:

Basin Street Records

March/2019

Catalogue Number:

BSR 0718-2

RecordDate:

April 2017

Basin Street Records have documented the distinctive flavours of New Orleans jazz since 1997. The label celebrated its 20th anniversary with a showcase gig at the restored Little Gem Saloon in 2017 which, judging from this nine-track compilation, was a fun night out. On album it transfers to a somewhat patchy night in. The CD opens with Jason Marsalis on vibraphone leading an upscale quartet through the Monkish accents and sassy contemporary swing of ‘Bourbon Street Ain’t Mardis Gras’. ‘At The House, In Da-Pocket’ follows, an off-kilter modernist blues featuring standout Oscar Rossignoli on piano and Marsalis setting up the evening as MC. Marsalis returns on drums, five tracks in with Los Hombres Calientes and a latin reading of ‘Autumn Leaves’. The solos from percussionist Bill Summers and pianist Ronald Markham are strong, but the track ends with a throwaway vocal. The rest of the album turns to revivalist classics and original second-line struts and boogaloos. Dr. White’s Bechet-influenced clarinet livens up ‘Summertime’, trumpeters Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield move from whisper to shout on ‘On the Sunny Side Of The Street’ and pianist Davell Crawford romps through ‘Big Boss Man’. Showboating solos and cultured rhythms, but the Marsalis bands apart, not much more.

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