Tipitina: I Wish I Was In New Orleans

 

TIPITINA: I WISH I WAS IN NEW ORLEANS

Catalogue number BEARCD47

 

The case against eclecticism and versatility is broadly speaking that if you get good at too many things you’ll fail in the creation of an individual voice, and so you’ll never establish a unique identity; in other words, you’ll be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. After all, isn’t there good evidence throughout the world of entertainment – especially music? From Louis Armstrong to miles Davis, Charley Patton to Bob Dylan, T-Bone Walker to Jimi Hendrix, an instantly recognisable sound is the key to a successful career. If you wanna be big, everything must be subsumed by your own individuality; whatever you do, don’t go changing according to your context.

 

And yet, chameleons have a good life as well. And there’s definitely something of the chameleon about Tipitina. In fact, to go from Tom Waits to Nat King Cole to Chris Kenner to Doris Day/Mama Cass (oh, all right then, Louis Armstrong/Ella Fitzgerald) in the first four songs on an album is to take the listener on something of an aural roller-coaster. That’s one of the things I really enjoy about it.

 

Putting in the piano interludes is, I think, something of a masterstroke; partly because it softens the curves and swerves of the said rollercoaster, and partly because it creates a kind of frame for the sonic picture and thereby relates everything to everything else, unifying the disparate bits into a sort of suite.

 

I’ve had a really good time listening to this CD. From the homespun sophistication of the title-track all the way to Henry Glover’s great Breaking Up The House, Tipitina have convinced me that they’re definitely on to something. Don’t go changing, guys.

Paul Jones

 

Track Listing

  1. I Wish I Was In New Orleans
  2. Mr. Jelly
  3. Hit That Jive Jack
  4. Something You Got
  5. Cousin Joe
  6. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
  7. Tuts Washington
  8. I Never Fool Nobody But Me
  9. Champion Jack
  10. You Talk Too Much
  11. Dr. John Creaux
  12. It Ain’t Gonna Worry My Mind
  13. Little Lovin’ Henry
  14. Trouble In Mind
  15. Three Fingered Mamie Desdunes
  16. I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel To Be Free
  17. Toussaint
  18. Ain’t Misbehavin’
  19. The Fat Man
  20. Hit The Road Jack
  21. Pride Of New Orleans
  22. Breaking Up The House
  23. The Bayou Maharajah

Musicians featured

Debbie Jones (Vocals)

Justin Randall (Piano and backing vocals)

Gary Barber (Drums and backing vocals)

Andy Postie Jones (Guitar)

Boysey Battrum (Tenor saxophone)

Tom Hill (Double bass)