Dr. John

Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch

Concord Records, 2014

Dr. John’s tribute to Louis Armstrong is neither for traditionalists or Naw’lins tourists seeking nostalgic crooning. According to the 73 year old pianist, Dr. John, the legendary jazz icon, “He (Armstrong) came to me in this dream and said, ‘Do my stuff — your way.'”

The songs here are inverted, re-imagined and flung headlong into this millennium with hip hop and funk infusions. But Jazz is a living, breathing art form, dependent on new ideas and fresh blood to re-invigorate it time and time again. Dr. John pushes his own limits on these collaborations and often ventures far from his own familiar waters.

The CD features a slew of special guests, and many of which are, (duh), trumpeters and New Orleans natives (Terence Blanchard and Wendell Brunious, Nicholas Payton,), as well as other artists, like Bonnie Raitt and The Blind Boys of Alabama.

“Tight Like This” features Arturo Sandoval and Telmary and is sweltering Spanglish hip hop spin on the classic and stands out. The song grows stronger with repeat listening. “Sweet Hunk of Trash” sounds like catching up with that couple from “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” after they finally settled down.

“When You’re Smiling” features The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and is a sunny, nay, positively jubilant end to a bright eyed tribute to an enigmatic musical figure.