New Orleans Brass
Putumayo World Music

Over the past decade or so, Putumayo World Music has lived up to its name, introducing its listeners to the indigenous music of many parts of the world. On this CD, it’s New Orleans’ turn to shine once again as the label focuses this time on the brass band sounds that make this uniquely New Orleans genre so easily identifiable to the rest of the world (previous Putumayo issues include New Orleans, New Orleans Christmas and New Orleans Playground).

The eleven tracks are an excellent representative sampling of the city’s brass bands and their musical styles, which include blues and gospel, as well as the Dixieland standards everyone knows by heart. Featured here are brothers James and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and cousin Glen David Andrews, the Yockamo All-Stars, Leroy Jones, John Boutte, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (with Dr. John), Bob French’s Original Tuxedo Jazz Band (with Leon “Chocolate” Brown), the Preservation Hall Hot 4, the Dukes of Dixieland and the trumpeter extraordinaire without whom such a collection would not be complete – Kermit Ruffins.

The standards include “Bourbon Street Parade,” “Over in the Gloryland,” “St. James Infirmary,” “Dinah” and – what else? – “When the Saints Go Marching In. An enhanced CD includes a video titled Do They Play Jazz in Heaven, featuring Ingrid Lucia on vocals and Irvin Mayfield on trumpet.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD go toward Preservation Hall’s nonprofit Renew Our Music Fund. – Dean M. Shapiro

by Dean Shapiro