My Zydeco Band

This same night saw the first live
performance of a zydeco band that I put together with
Thomas Gunn (guitar/vocals), Spencer Lathrop
(drums/percussion), and Matt Gallup (washboard). This
is an extension of a project with Thomas and Matt
Wyatt who will be drumming for an upcoming show on
November 25th at Fellini's #9. I happened upon a
cordovox accordion at a pawn shop in arlington,
virginia a few weeks prior to the show. The cordovox
model is basically an accordion combined with the
innards of an organ and run through a big
cordovox-only amplifier. They were all the rage in
the 1970's I'm told. For our purposes, it fit in
nicely since the bass notes are amplified (obviating
the need for a bassist) and the accordion/organ is
internally miked (I've never met a soundman who enjoys
miking an accordion). Mighty Matty and the Mudflaps
are available for parties, weddings, and any event
that needs a shuffling groove and an accordion laced
melody. The blues never sounds so sweet as when it
has that New Orleans beat.

Stridin' Down Bourbon

I held a CD release party at Fellini's
#9 for my latest album, 'Stridin' Down Bourbon: A
Tribute to James Booker and the Music of New Orleans.'
Since my brother John first introduced me to Booker's
recordings four years ago, I've been mesmorized by his
inimitable approach to stride piano playing. On this
album, I pay homage to his dazzling interpretations of
classical pieces, harmonically layered original tunes,
and stride reinventions of classics from Beatles to
Broadway songs. I play some selections that he never
recorded but treat them with the same stylistic
conventions he might have used. The album is $10 (s &
h included) and all proceeds will be donated to the
New Orleans Musicians' Free Clinic and victims of
Hurricane Katrina. Please visit the 'contact' page
and email me to place an order.