NOLA Strong…
Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra – Crescent City Jewels – Troubadour Jass Records # TJR08292024 – 67:41 – ****1/2
(Delfeayo Marsalis – Trombone; Uptown Jazz Orchestra; complete artist list below)
There is “feel good” music, and then there is New Orleans “FEEL GOOD” music. The latter is a specialty of Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Their new CD recorded in two separate sessions (note the huge amount of band members noted above) in November of 2023, and May of 2024, crosses every “T” and dotting every “I” of New Orleans based jazz and R&B. The vibe is both smile inducing and foot tapping.
Whether it is the classic New Orleans staples like “Ooh Poo Pah Doo,” or “Basin Street Blues,” standards such as “Round Midnight,” or “What a Difference a Day Makes,” the Uptown Orchestra bring a joy and sass to anything they do. Their vocalist, Tonya Boyd- Cannon, brings the church into “Valley Of Prayers,” and revitalizes “Summertime.” Her soulfulness continues on “A Sleepin’ Bee,” “Exactly Like You,” and “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free.”
Brother, Branford Marsalis, adds his mastery on “Inner Urge,” and soprano sax solo on “El Ultimo Cafe.”
Beginning with the funky groove of “Sidewalk Sizzle,” and all the way to the entire band vocalizing on the strut of “Lil Liza Jane,” this is an hour plus of NOLA happiness. It might be an unwieldy project to bring the Uptown Jazz Orchestra on a cross country tour, but the joy they bring would be a panacea for our tense times…
—Jeff Krow
Crescent City Jewels
Tracklist:
Sidewalk Sizzle, A Sleepin’ Bee, Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Basie Moods, Valley of Prayers, El Ultimo Cafe, High Cotton, Summertime, Exactly Like You, Inner Urge, ‘Round Midnight, I Wish I Knew How It Would Be to Be Free, Basin Street Blues, What a Difference a Day Makes, Intro to Liza, Lil Liza Jane
Uptown Jazz Orchestra:
Delfeayo Marsalis- trombone;
Khari Allen Lee, Aaron Narcisse, Khris Royal, Roderick Paulin, Scott Johnson, Sheena Ryan, Trevarri Huff-Boone, Alonzo Bowens, Branford Marsalis – saxophones;
Gregory “Speedo” Agid – clarinet;
Terrance “Hollywood” Taplin, Charles Williams, T.J. Norris, Ethan Santos, Maurice “Meaux” Trosclair- trombones;
Scott Frock, Andrew Baham, John Gray, Ashlin Parker, John Culbreth, Lynn Grisset – trumpets;
Kyle Roussel, Shea Pierre, Victor Campbell, Davell Crawford – piano;
Chris Severin, Roland Guerin, Jason Stewart, Barry Stephenson, David Pulphus – bass;
Kenny Brown – guitar;
Jarrel Allen, Brian Richburg, Jr., Herlin Riley(+tambourine) – drums;
Tonya Boyd-Cannon – vocals
