Digging in the Crates - Murf

Published on: May 15th, 2017

artists listeners may like

Rhiannon Giddens

A week has drifted by since the 2017 Jazz and Heritage festival. A 10-day musical interlude that derails most New Orleanians into a whirlwind of music, so getting back to the usual work week takes a little bit of time. One of the highlights of Jazzfest was the presence of Rhiannon Giddens. 2010 was the year listeners started hearing about Giddens through her work with the groundbreaking group, Carolina Chocolate Drops. Giddens also was a member of the New Basement Tapes, and has now released two albums as a solo artist: 2015's Tomorrow Never Comes and her most recent Freedom Highway.

For the production on Freedom Highway, Giddens enlisted the help of T-Bone Burnett, also the producer on the New Basement Tapes, and whose vision helped shaped the 12 songs on this album. Burnett, quoted in the New York Times, described Giddens as a musican "with a pretty profound gift." The Album's name and title track come from the Staple singers live concert album, recorded in their home church, Chicago's New Nazareth Church. An album of discovery, using the backdrop of our country's history as well as an artist discovering herself in the songs. Many of the songs are powerful stories, with arrangements and instrumentation creating a bridge between yesteryear and now. Whether the compositions are originals or re-interpreted songs, (Mississippis John Hurt's, "The Angels Laid Him Away,") Giddens is able to get into the dirt and bones of America through her songs and show us something new about ourselves. Whether the song's content is about history, racism, struggle or love, these songs have always been here lying among the whispers in the dew grass, we just needed Giddens to awaken them.

The Charlatans

Remember the band The Charlatans? One of the bands of the "Madchester" scene, along with, The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses; The Charlatans had a hit with the Hammond B-3 drenched single, "The Only One I Know'" the beginning of the Charlatans career, which is still going strong today. The Charlatans seventh release "Wonderland," released in 2001 is the record I have been keeping in the rotation for the last few weeks. The album was recorded in Los Angeles, also the inspiration for the record. According to singer Tim Burgess, the goal of the record was to feel the city throughout the album, and for inspiration, the band immersed themselves in LA life. The clubs, the parties the drugs, celebrities(Daniel Lanois and Twiggy Ramirez make appearances on the record.) The feel of the city is evident in the songs and even the album's artwork and title. Listen to the tracks "Love is the Key," or "Your so Pretty, We're so Pretty." If you have not listened to the Charlatans in a while, now is the time. Also be on the lookout for their newest recording, "Different Days," due out the end of May. Hope you dig the records and I'll be back with something . . .

Don't forget to check out some of the shows happening around New Orleans this week.

Wednesday, May 17 @ Old US Mint - Pink Magnolias

Thursday, May 18th @ One Eyed Jacks - X

Saturday, May 20 @ Siberia - Happy Talk Band, Helen Gillet, and Washboard Chaz