Album Review: Charlie & the Tropicales - New Orleans '26

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here.

It is of Charlie & the Tropicales newest album, New Orleans '26.

Album Review: Dusk Dept. - Dusk Dept.

Dusk Dept.

ST

***and1/2 out of *****

The debut, self-titled album from Dusk Dept. arrives with a bunch of mystery. Wanting the music to speak for itself, the musicians go by nicknames as the funky beats, jazzy excursion, popping brass and hip shaking good times roll out over six extended tracks. 

Album Review: Thundercat - Distracted

Thundercat

Distracted

** out of *****

On Thundercat's excellent previous release, 2020's It Is What It Is, Stephen Bruner balanced his playful nature with grieving the loss of a close friend. That duality continues on his newest album, Distracted as the album is half A-list pop showcase and half Bruner turning inward, dealing with relationships, his insecurities and being honest/true. 

Album Review: Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard - Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard

Sweet, Sweet Spirit

*** out of *****

Two legendary artists come together, combining the worlds of Jazz and Gospel on Blue Note Records/Motown Gospel, Sweet, Sweet Spirit. Ron Carter and Ricky Dillard work to fuse their bass and choir master talents, delivering ten combinations of holy/engaging offerings.

Album Review: Sean R. Ferguson - Ténèbres

Sean R. Ferguson

Ténèbres

***and1/2 out of *****

The newest release from Brooklyn based composer, arranger, and performer Sean R Ferguson is Ténèbres on Big Round Records. The experimental audio work is based on François Couperin's Leçons de ténèbres and takes the church based choral music and moves it into a modern instrumental realm, touching both the avant-garde and the holy. 

Album Review: Shannon Powell - Powell's Place

Shannon Powell 

Powell's Place

**** out of *****

The newest offering from Tipitina's Record Club is a reissue of Shannon Powell's debut solo album, Powell's Place. The gorgeous peach vinyl brings the hard to find release to a larger audience as the drummer unites a cross section of Crescent City players for a jazzy/funky affair. 

New Single from Charlie & The Tropicales "Tain't It The Truth"

The New Orleans based Charlie & The Tropicales have a new single out, a cover of Ernie K Doe's "Tain't It The Truth".

RtBE are big fans of Charlie & The Tropicales, and on this track helping out are other RtBE favorites, Jon Cleary, Sally Baby Geloso, Xavier Lynn and more. 

Album Review: The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis - Deface The Currency

The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

Deface The Currency

**** out of *****

The Washington D.C. based jazz/punk outfit The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis continue to evolve with their sound, happily falling in-between genre cracks. Deface The Currency is the core band's second outing with Lewis as the quartet are more assured and propulsive than ever. 

Full Show Friday: Cimafunk - San Javier 2024

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Cimafunk!

Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase during our Full Show Friday series for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on Cimafunk who will be playing on Thursday April 23rd

New Single from Okonski "Easy"

The Asheville, NC based Okonski have a new single out on Colemine Records, "Easy". 

About the song, Steve Okonski states:

New Single from Nolatet "Something to Relax With"

The New Orleans based Nolatet have a new single out, the title track of their upcoming album from Royal Potato Family records, "Something to Relax With".

The album was recorded live in Tulsa, OK as the band worked out the new material in front of a friendly crowd. 

Check out the chilled out, strolling effort below:

Happy 55th Anniversary to Miles Davis' Jack Johnson

Today Miles Davis' landmark album Jack Johnson (aka A Tribute to Jack Johnson) turns 55 years old. 

Back in 2019, RtBE did a series called The Masters and Miles Davis was a part of it. 

New Single from Gregory Hutchinson "Orbits"

The Brooklyn based jazz drummer Gregory Hutchinson has a new single out today, "Orbits".

Full Show Friday: Art Hirahara Trio - Live 9/22/22 @ Bird and Beckett Books SF, CA

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing). This week...Art Hirahara Trio! 

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2026 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

We wrap up Jazzy January with a trip to the west coast back in 2022. The Art Hirahara Trio (Art Hirahara, piano, John Wiitala, bass, Tim Bulkley, drums) play a small book shop in San Fran for your pleasure. 

Thanks for hanging out this month, next month it is back to normal programming. 

Archived livestream. Enjoy:

Album Review: Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble - Groove In The Face of Adversity

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble

Groove In The Face of Adversity

***and1/2 out of *****

For his newest project Don Was assembled a crack team from Detroit, titling the outfit the Pan-Detroit Ensemble as he states "we are on a mission to promulgate the music of our hometown". Groove In The Face of Adversity allows the laid back musicianship of all involved to shine through. 

New Single from Marco Benevento "Frizzante"

Talented keyboardist Marco Benevento shares his newest single, "Frizzante" on Big Crown Records.

Check out the jazzy, retro soul instrumental below:

Album Review: Colossus Brass Band: Sing On

Colossus Brass Band

Sing On

**** out of *****

The debut release, titled Sing On, from the newly formed Colossus Brass Band is a hefty slice of traditional hymns and original music steeped in the vibrant history of New Orleans Brass Band's and the city's unique Second Line culture. The album mixes older classics and new originals that fit right into the brass band tradition. Released on the Old Saw Music label, the album is chockful of musical veterans and is a must own for any fans of New Orleans traditional sound.  

New Single from Saxophonist Nicole McCabe "Hues"

The Los Angeles based saxophonist & composer Nicole McCabe has a new album out in February, Color Theory, and the first single, "Hues" is out now.  

About the tune McCabe states:

Album Review Art Pepper - Surf Ride (Remastered)

Art Pepper

Surf Ride (Remastered)

****and1/2 out of *****

As part of Craft Recordings Original Jazz Classics series, Art Pepper's 1959 album Surf Ride gets a remastered release. These twelve tracks, originally recorded for the Savoy label, display Pepper in some of his earliest sessions as a band leader and the results are electric. 

Dylan Cover #716 The Gene Norman Group "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by The Gene Norman Group playing "Subterranean Homesick Blues" 

Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan with a jazz vibe.

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we posted a cover version of this tune:
One of the most iconic songs from Dylan's most famous period and a very early showing of how powerful a music video could be. Dylan nods to beat poetry, current events, Chuck Berry's "No More Monkey Business", paranoia, and the Vietnam War all in around two minutes of linked lyrics over one of his earliest electric recordings. There is also the sly sense of humor which Dylan never gets enough credit for, while raging against the proverbial machine. A classic '60's tune in all respects and one non-Dylan fans usually love as well.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time RtBE has come across The Gene Norman Group and honestly there isn't much out there on them. The players on this album were: Jim Horn - saxophone, flute, Glen Campbell - guitar, Al De Lory - piano, Lyle Ritz - bass, Hal Blaine - drums.

Thoughts on Cover:

This is such a strange cover, it has almost zero connection to the original. It isn't bad, but as a huge Dylan fan, I am not sure I would even know what the song was if I heard it blind. 

I am kind of fascinated by it and a little upset we found this album so late in the month. Maybe next year we will cover this weird album in full for Jazzy Januarys. Until then, thanks for listening and next month will return to regularly scheduled programming.