“SideBar Sessions, Vol. 1”
The Extended Trio vs. Brad Walker
(Self-released)
Mid-City jazz lounge SideBar has launched a live album series, publishing sets recorded in its small space on S. White Street. The bar also has been hosting numerous virtual concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first volume in the “SideBar Sessions” series is an exciting, free-flowing seven-song set by the Extended Trio — pianist Oscar Rossignoli, bassist Matt Booth and drummer Brad Webb — with saxophonist Brad Walker. Each of those performers is an accomplished musician, recognized in jazz circles in and outside of New Orleans. Together, Extended is an intuitive group. Add in Walker and it’s just all on a new level. Recorded on March 11, the SideBar session is filled with feeling and improvisation that stays engaging, bringing consistent cheers and hollers from the audience. Occasionally, Rossignoli’s piano has a muted tone in comparison to other players and the rare snare hit registers off the charts, but those technical details could be easily fixed for future SideBar session recordings. — JAKE CLAPP
“Spring Clean”
Curren$y & Fuse
(Jet Life and 808Mafia)
New Orleans’ Curren$y has been steadily releasing new music since December. The rapper followed up December’s “Back at Burnie’s” album with January’s “The Tonite Show with Curren$y,” a collaboration with producer DJ Fresh; a short EP, “3 Piece Set,” with Thelonious Martin in February; a nine-track project with fellow New Orleanian Fendi P, “Smokin’ Potnas’” in March; and in April, “The Green Tape” EP with producer Cardo Got Wings. Curren$y may have broken his streak without a release in May, but he came back strong in June with “Spring Clean,” a 10-track album made in collaboration with Atlanta producer Fuse. Rappers Fendi P., Gunplay, Wiz Khalifa and T.Y. guest on a handful of tracks. Despite the “Spring Clean” title, there’s a quality to Curren$y’s mellow style and Fuse’s production that feels right for hot, humid and heavy summer nights. — JAKE CLAPP
"Folk Songs of the American Longhair"
Brother Dege
(GolarWash Records)
There’s an anthemic feel to “Too Old to Die Young,” a powerful folk blues track that helped Brother Dege find wider audiences when it was released on his 2010 album “Folk Songs of the American Longhair.” Quentin Tarantino put it on the soundtrack for “Django Unchained” (parts of which were filmed in Louisiana) and gave Dege a ringing endorsement. For Dege, the album was a long time coming. Born Dege Legg in Lafayette, he powered a psychedelic swamp rock band named Santeria; ended that and backed CC Adcock with The Lafayette Marquis; and then settled into stripped down blues for a series of solo releases. “Folk Songs” was recorded in unconventional spaces, including a shed on his property, and there’s not much beyond Dege picking and playing slide blues on a scruffy Dobro guitar. There’s wailing slow songs as well as more driving tracks, like the attention-grabbing opener “Hard Row to Hoe,” which was chosen as a theme song for a spin-off of the reality TV show “The Deadliest Catch.” A 10th anniversary vinyl edition of "Folk Songs," which includes downloads for lo-fi demos of some songs, was released on June 26 and marks the staying power of Dege's best work. — WILL COVIELLO
