MARDI GRAS JAM
(featuring Ivan Neville, Eric Krasno, George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste &
Jay Rodriguez)
At B.B. King's Blues Club - NYC (2/24/04)
George Porter, Jr. & Ivan Neville
At
9:15pm, the Mardi Gras Jam began at B.B. King's Blues with a funky jam by the
quintet of Neville/Krasno/Porter/Batiste/Rodriguez......funky jazz rhythm
guitarisms of Eric Krasno and the wonderful sax riffs of Jay Rodriguez filled
the restaurant/bar. "Funky Miracle" was da jam with the steaming
organ riffs of Ivan Neville! "Look A-Py-Py" was followed by "Iko
Iko" and "They All Ask'd For You", both songs featured a lot of
audience participation. "Just Kissed My Baby" was good, but better
was the full horn section (trumpet, saxophone and trombone) on "Soul
Power"! "People Say" featured some super-funky organisms. It was
nice to hear the guys do Professior Longhair's "Goin' to New Orleans"
(I wished that I was IN New Orleans.....just without all the crime!), but it
was 100 times better when they ACTUALLY performed....."Mardi Gras
Mambo", featuring a nice bass intro by George Porter, Jr....George
provided some smokin' bass throughout the N'awlins seasonal anthem!!
"Mardi Gras Day" followed "Mardi Gras Mambo". The band did
some serious jammin' on "Big Chief", with some funky beats by the
drummer Russell Batiste. "Hey Pocky A-Way" was the funky ending to
the Mardi Gras Jam set. The encore featured the funky drumming by Russell and
guest drummer Adam Bass on "The World's a Little Bit Under The Weather
(Doodle-Oop)"!! It was finally over at 11:15pm.
Click here for pictures of the Mardi
Gras Jam
Go back to my home page
Submit suggestions or comments to david.brooks@brookenstein.com