The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

The boisterous R&B singer Ernie K-Doe once bragged, "I'm not certain, but I'm almost positive
that all music came from New Orleans." Although K-Doe was obviously overstating the case,
no other American city has had a hand in shaping as many popular musical styles as New
Orleans. Curiously, the city hasn't been a force in the record industry since the early
Sixties, when it dominated the charts. But with three New Orleans groups curre... More >

The cameos--by Dr. John, Dizzy Gillespie, and Branford Marsalis--are the giveaways, because this jaunty concept needs those guys, to sing or solo as the case may be. The headliners are the lounge band of a tourist's dreams, and that's all they are. Why in the world cover Stevie Wonder's message-laden "Don't Drive Drunk" as an instrumental (polyphonic, mais oui)? Because it's a deathless piece of music? To prove how up-to-date you are? Or to stump the clientele in a game of name-that-tune? (Grade: B)