Concert Review- Donald Harrison/Cyrille Neville/Mardi Gras Indians/Henry Butler

Concert Review-

Donald Harrison/Cyrille Neville/Mardi Gras Indians/Henry Butler

A Day in Treme- The Musical Majesty of New Orleans

BAM R&B Fest Metro Tech, Brooklyn NY

Thursday June 23

When jazz sax giant Donald Harrison said this was going to be a New Orleans’ party, he wasn’t kidding.

This was just great to say the least.

Opening up with some wonderful straight jazz, he didn’t kick it New Orleans style until about the twenty minute mark. The crowd who braved a rainy morning, sat in the off and on drizzle, but didn’t much mind. For this was the happiest of dance music, that had everyone either clapping along, on their feet, or just plain grooving to the noontime happening.

When audience member Henry Butler was lured onstage, the blind virtuoso pianist played lightning fast, and reminded me of the late, great Professor Longhair. The party was on full force. This was followed shortly by two Mardi Gras Indians in full regalia, playing percussion, and dancing to the jamming band. Cyrille Neville proved to be both a strong and charismatic instrumentalist and singer as well. Interestingly enough, late in the show Harrison even did a bit of rapping to a New Orleans beat. And although Harrison is a far better sax man than singer or rapper, it all “worked.” And wonderfully at that.

This was a joyful noise.

At the 90 minute mark the Heavens opened up and a torrential downpour hit. The host announced that due to the threat of lightning, the show had to be cut by “a few minutes.”
I can attest to the fact that not a single person left unsatisfied.

Bravo to Mr. Harrison who I saw when he was a youth with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. He’s developed into a great band leader and showman and this was right up there with one of the best shows I’ve seen in quite a while.

--Evan Ginzburg www.legendsradio.net

Evan Ginzburg celebrates 20 years of radio July 12 at Gizzi’s Café 16 W 8^th St. NYC 7-11 PM with a No Cover concert featuring 6 of his favorite virtuoso acts- all genres of music- and a 10 PM jam session.