recommended album of the week

Artist: Dr. John
Album: Dr. John’s Gumbo
Available on: Amazon
Listen to when: Lettin’ it all hang out

Few things comfort me like New Orleans music. I grew up listening to my father play Professor Longhair and James Booker on the piano and eventually began performing the same songs with him. Dr. John is one of the best that the city has to offer, but his recordings can be hit or miss. That said, Dr. John’s Gumbo is about as fine of an example of pure New Orleans as you’ll get – classic tunes played by veteran musicians. His gravely voice and mastery of the classic New Orleans piano style have never sounded better. If you want to know what the city really sounds like, pick this up. Not surprisingly, it’s great party music.