up all night
(Photos © Jim Stanford — click on images to enlarge)
Last we left off with the New Mastersounds, at the Knotty Pine in January, the lads from Leeds had plane tickets booked for Jazz Fest but were looking to line up gigs.
Well, line up gigs they did, and the funky Brits became the de facto house band for some of the hottest late-night jams in New Orleans.
On Tuesday night in between weekends of the festival, I ventured down to Frenchmen St. to meet up with Burton and Jess and a group of their friends from Jam Cruise. Burton and Jess are two of the most devoted music fans in Jackson, and Burton had shared a tip that Karl Denson would be joining the Mastersounds at the Blue Nile.
First we were treated to a scorching set by Dragonsmoke, an all-star ensemble from New Orleans featuring guitarist and singer Eric Lindell, drummer Stanton Moore and bassist Rob Mercurio of Galactic, and keyboardist Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk.
The highly talented Lindell took the lead as the group performed some of his original material; it’s always refreshing to return to New Orleans and hear his refrain, “Don’t let nobody change your funky style.”
The New Mastersounds came on sometime after 2 a.m., and sure enough, Karl D. was with them. The stalwart sax man with the pointy gray goatee once again reminded everyone that the D stands for diesel, churning like a freight train all night long.
A host of musicians sat in during the two sets, including trumpeter Maurice Brown, guitarist Eric Krasno of Soulive and a female singer who belted out a couple of blues numbers. Denson was indefatigable, and his sultry sax blasts were the perfect complement to the Mastersounds’ guitar- and keyboard-driven grooves.
“Jolly good fun, this Jazzfest business,” the group wrote on its Web site, recounting a similar such jam several nights earlier.
We left, reluctantly, around 5 a.m., too exhausted to dance any longer. The sun was beginning to rise over the French Quarter.
As I staggered back to the hotel, two things occurred to me: Always listen when Burton has a tip about music, and when Karl Denson is on the bill, be prepared to stay up late.
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Good news for Teton-area music fans: The New Mastersounds are coming back to play two gigs this summer: the Music on Main free concert series in Driggs, Idaho, on Thursday, July 17, and the following night at the Mangy Moose Saloon in Teton Village.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Next year you should write about Jazz Fest in real time. Your sentences might end up being indecipherable… but that would only lend credibility to your grasp of the subject matter.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Dragon Smoke was silly funky!! Ivan and Stanton are so locked in when they play together, they just drive that train and Eric adds the shine to the ride. Didn’t stick around for the Mastersounds, but sounds like a great show!!
May 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
In response to “Next year you should write about Jazz Fest in real time. Your sentences might end up being indecipherable… but that would only lend credibility to your grasp of the subject matter.”
THERE’S NOT ENOUGH TIME!!! HEHE…
May 13th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
yep — at a certain point I just had to experience it and leave the writing until I got home. good seeing you guys. I’ll keep an eye out for the raffles next year!