Okay so Birmingham’s Hotel Du Vin might some way
from New Orleans but there was clearly a cheeky little bit of juju going on
when Tipitina recorded their latest album there, Taking Care Of Business, live
at last year’s Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival. A mouth
watering jambalaya of covers from some true N’awlins greats (step forward Dr
John, The Meters and Allen Toussaint) together with a handful of equally strong
originals, it’s a boogie woogie bluesy joy from Birmingham City (well the
band’s from Preston...but that didn’t rhyme so well).
Kicking off with The Meter’s classic Hey Pocky Way the
band replaces the original’s funky horns with a jazzier arrangement, perfectly
suited to the gloriously gospel tinged vocals of lead singer Debbie Jones. Covering the good Doctor’s seminal Such A
Night is a brave move but the band more than do it justice, neatly capturing
that laid back, woozy morning after the night before...the night before...vibe.
Kudos to Justin Randall’s piano playing on this track in particular, Mac would
be proud of ya. Elsewhere the band mash up the Latin rhythms of Tico Tico with
Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good dragging it kicking and screaming from the
gutter to a late night cocktail bar. If you like your jazz hot, your blues cool and your...er... woogie boogied...this album's the business.
Taking Care of Business is out on Big Bear Records.
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