DR. JOHN
Creole Moon (Blue Note)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Dr. John's latest prescription, Creole Moon, cures my ills with an array of blues, funk, and swamp stuff that has kept the good doctor in practice for over four decades now. This time out, he features the work of another musical icon, the late Doc Pomus. Creole Moon features five songs co-written by Dr. John and Doc Pomus, including the set's closer, "One 2 AM Too Many." Dr. John's Lower 911 Band -- guitarist Renard Poche and the mighty rhythm section of drummer Herman Ernest III and bassist David Barard -- is here, along with some pretty special guests. He's got Michael Doucet of Beausoleil lending his Cajun fiddle on "Holdin' Pattern" and "Georgianna," and guitarists' guitarist Sonny Landreth helping out on "Monkey and Baboon" and "Take What I Can Get." Creole Moon transported me down to Louisiana, and all over the musical world, with a spicy gumbo of Caribbean, Latin, and African rhythms. To paraphrase Dr. John's Gumbo-isms in the liner notes, "I ain't just jaw-jerkin', this aggravation's fonk is fine." Loosely translated, I'm not just talking, this band's great!

Track List:

You Swore * In The Name Of You * Food For Thot * Holdin' Pattern * Bruha Bembe * Imitation Of Love * Now That You Got Me * Creole Moon * Georgianna *Monkey & Baboon *Take What I Can Get * Queen Of Cold * Litenin' * One 2 A.M. Too Many

© 2002 - Eric Steiner