DEAN'S CD REVIEWS
The New Orleans Mystics
The New Orleans
Mystics
Sound of New Orleans Records
Together since the early 1970s, the New Orleans Mystics have
been one of New Orleans’ most popular Soul/R&B groups for that
entire time. However, it has taken them nearly that long to lay down
enough tracks to make a full album but it was worth the wait. Their
new, self-titled CD consists entirely of 12 cover songs from the early
1960s through the mid ‘70s and all are done in the unique style of
this talented vocal quartet. The group members, Lee Barnes, Billy
Mims, Mike Baptiste and Freddie Johnson Jr., trade off on the lead
vocals while the others fall in line with the harmonies behind the
lead, backed up by a five-member superstar band.
The tracks include songs made popular by the Temptations,
the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the Isley Brothers and more. The real
standout cuts include covers of Eddie Holman’s distinct falsetto
on “Hey There Lonely Girl,” the Spinners’ “It’s a Shame,” Ben E.
King’s “Stand By Me” and – especially, Shep & the Limelites’ 1961
classic, “Daddy’s Home.” Listening to these guys is like taking a
time machine back to a memorable musical era when those who
had the ability to sing stood out from the pack and earned the right
to be where they were. Lyrics were meaningful, written by some
of the greatest songwriters of modern times. These are among the
key elements that the New Orleans Mystics bring to their live
shows and what they now bring to the table on this recording. They
reflect a reverence for the past and their work does justice those
who came before them.
Backing them up in flawless style are the members of the Real
Soul Band, made up of Ronald “Shammika” Earnest (guitar), Angelo
Nocentelli (bass), Ricky McQuillis (keyboards), Brennan “Ringo”
Williams (drums) and Bobbie Parker (percussion). The album was
mixed and engineered by George Cureau and produced by Gary
Edwards whose meticulous attention to detail shines once again
on a masterpiece of musical art.
Available at local record stores or by ordering at http://www.soundofneworleans.
com/1082~CD.htm
Dean M. Shapiro
Tony Seville
& The Cadillacs
Volume 1
Mahogany Jazz Records
On this CD, multi-instrumentalist Tony Seville and the talented
trio of musicians who perform with him break out and venture
into new territory. Unlike their previous CD (reviewed in the
May/June 2019 issue of Breakthru Media magazine), which was
exclusively instrumental jazz, the quartet plays pop standards, as
well as R&B, Soul, instrumental hits from the rock and roll and
jazz genres, and even some original blues and rock numbers. And,
most notably of all, Seville also sings with the same verve and
energy that goes into his work on trumpet, sax, flute and Latin
percussion (bongos).
The CD opens with a medley of seven songs, including such
familiar standards as “Mercy Mercy,” “On Broadway, “My Foolish
Heart,” “On a Clear Day” and others which segue neatly together
in a flow that is pleasing to the ears, interspersed with Seville’s
vocals on some of the songs. However, at 28 minutes long, this
medley is a bit too lengthy and probably should have been broken
down into at least two or three components. Other tracks include
medleys of “Soulful Strut,” “Breezin’” and “Grazin’ in the Grass”;
“Silver Serenade” and “I’ll be Around”; and “Walk Don’t Run”
combined with “Tequila” (minus the deep bass song title so memorably
vocalized on the Champs’ original version).
The real standout tracks, in terms of showing off the group’s
versatility, come with the CD’s final three cuts, starting with Al
Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” which allows Seville to show his
vocal ability in the Soul genre. Then comes “Quicksand,” an original
composition performed in a blues style, and finally the closer,
“Rock Steady,” which is exactly what the title says it is.
Additional credit goes to the three outstanding musical artists
backing Seville: Matt White on guitar, Larry Turner on bass and
Rey Rivera on drums and percussion. Kudos also to the mastering
of David Farrell from the Word of Mouth Studios in Algiers. A
superfine effort by all who made this recording happen.
This CD and others by the group are available at the Mahogany
Jazz Hall, 125 Chartres Street in the French Quarter or can be
ordered online at tonyseville.com.
Dean M. Shapiro
24 | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | breakthrumediamagazine.com J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 1 9
/tonyseville.com
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