CD 3061-2 Music Mecca 2001, 15 tracks 72 minutes

Ciribiribin, On A Coconut Island, Shake It & Break It, In The Garden, My Little Girl, Eh La Bas, In The Sweet By & By, Someday You'll Want Me To Want You, He Touched Me, On A Treasure Island, Milk Cow Blues, Second Line March, Moonlight & Roses, Will The Circle Be Unbroken

What a delight it is to play 'My Little Girl' by New Orleans Delight! Having heard them on the Sorgenfri Kirke CDs I felt a desire to have more material by this Scandinavian band. Their normal front line is trumpetless and this allows them to have guest players, on this occasion Norbert Susemihl of Germany. Now, without trumpet Delight split lead between Kjeld Brandt on clarinet and Bengt Hansson on trombone and do so with consummate skill. Put in a trumpet and they change their style so seamlessly that you would never guess that they normally play without one. You may ask how they manage with having different horn players guesting with them as each player has their own style. The answer is that whoever is with them is accommodated and assimilated and the style changes slightly but still within the New Orleans idiom and still distinctly New Orleans Delight.

As I said earlier, the guest horn player on this CD is Norbert Susemihl. Norbert has spent much time in New Orleans soaking up the music and playing with the bands there in all the styles in the New Orleans fold up to and including the Algiers Brass Band an all black outfit (and I ain't talking Kiwi rugby players here). In addition to trumpet, Norbert plays the flugel horn when backing Delight's other guest, the magical Danish gospel singer, Kristin Lombolt. Her singing of ' In The Garden' and ' He Touched Me' haunt my mind. Kristin's singing and the Delight's sensitive backing, pure magic.

In years past the torch of purist New Orleans jazz passed from its black originators to white Americans. Just as it was starting to slip, the Brits picked it up. More and more these days it is the bands from Scandinavia that bear the torch and New Orleans Delight is one of Scandinavia's best.

Buy and enjoy!

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com

CD 3086-2 Music Mecca 2002, 14 tracks 63 minutes

If Those Lips Could Only Speak, Maria Elena, Sporting Life Blues, Oh You Beautiful Doll, My Gal Sal, Go To New Orleans, In The Upper Garden, If I Had My Way, Don't Leave Me Now, All I Do Is Dream OF You, Fly Away, What Am I Living For, Move The Body Over, Can I Sleep In Your Arms Tonight Lady

The boys are back, and this time they have Englishman Derek Winters with them on trumpet and vocals. I have heard Derek before with both Chris Blount and Brian Carrick. I like his smooth and rich style. I haven't till now been aware of his singing, but having done so courtesy of this CD, I shan't forget his half singing and half talking delivery. It is a cross between Ken Colyer and my great-uncle Arthur, who, after a rum or two, as was appropriate for an ex-merchant seaman, used to quietly talk/sing to the music on the radio whilst he rolled his nightly supply of Nosegay Shag cigarettes.

This CD is a tour de force for New Orleans Delight with every track memorable and a delight to listen to. I understand that the CD was late getting to market as there was a problem on selecting the tracks to use. Well I have no doubt the problem was due to the band having so many quality numbers that they didn't know which ones to leave off.

I am totally rapped with this CD. The whole band are individually top line musos, add them together and they become a, well they become a New Orleans Delight actually!

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com

CD 3019-2 Music Mecca 1999, 13 tracks 75 minutes

Mary Wore A Golden Chain, Lead Me Saviour, My Curly Headed Baby, Does Jesus Care, Lead Me Guide Me, Lily Of The Valley, Precious Lord, Just A While To Stay Here, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, In The Sweet Bye And Bye, Sing On, The Old Rugged Cross, This Little Light Of Mine

When Kjeld Brandt of New Orleans Delight knew I had a copy of this CD he asked me not to review it as it was an older recording done live, and the band is so much better now. Terribly sorry old chap, as we POMs say: 'Tough titty'.

Within the church there are many different persuasions of church service and music from the simplicity of Catholic and Orthodox chants to the complexities of the High Anglican even song using the English coral tradition, from the old style Baptist metrical psalm singing to the simple verses favoured by many of the independent congregations. So where does New Orleans delights gospel music fit in? Well evangelical rather than Pentecostal I think.

Ok Kjeld, so the sound and balance is far from perfect at times, and, yes, a bit raucous in parts, but it moves man, it moves. So, if you are prepared to relax and let the spirit take you, just swing and sway to the glory of God.

These tracks are from three 1999 sessions in Femo, Holmstrup and St Nicolaj Churches with a variation in the band's line up from one session to another. Two of the sessions have Norbert Susemihl guesting on trumpet.

Music Mecca say that stocks of this CD are low and that it will not be re-issued, so you will have to get in quick for this moving and fun CD. Fun? Well worshipping the Lord the New Orleans delight way sure is!

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com

Algiers Strut, San Antonio Rose, Whining Boy Blues, Highways Are Happy Ways, John B Calypso, Gloryland, Blueberry Hill, Big Mamou, Last Mile Of The Way, Joe Avery’s Piece/Dippermouth Medley, A Thousand Goodnights

Kid Bastien: this English born Canadian trumpet player had a well earned reputation as a world class jazzman, but a very small discography. He wasn’t even going to do this recording as ‘All the best music has already been put down by the New Orleans guys.’ It was only through a friendship with NOD’s sound engineer, Jorgan Vad and Jorgan applying emotional blackmail, that this CD was made. It was just as well as only days after listening to the mastercopy and giving his approval for the CD to be issued, this unique jazzman died. Listening to this CD one wonders if he didn’t know that this CD was to be his obituary. On ‘Gloryland’ the words ‘tell them I‘ll be coming too’, get changed to ‘tell them I’ll be coming soon’. Add that to the lyrics of ‘Last Mile Of The Way’ and you become convinced that Kid had had a premonition of his coming death.

If you have never heard Kid Bastien, and unless you fortunate enough to have heard him live, that would be most of us, then this CD will let you know what you missed. Kid in many ways modelled himself and his own band on Kid Thomas and on this CD New Orleans Delight do an excellent job of fitting in with Kid Bastien’s style, to the extent that they sound much better than Kid Thomas does on the few tracks of his that I have.

Kid Bastien hated flying almost as much as he did having his music recorded. What finally persuaded him to go to Denmark and play with NOD was the fact that he would have the chance to play alongside an old mate, tenor saxophonist George Berry.

Now anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not keen on tenor saxes, especially in a traditional jazz band, and even more so in an extended frontline where it has to share space with a clarinet. This time, though, it works and works brilliantly. How much is due to George’s ability to fit in and how much is due to clarinettist Kjeld Brandt’s talent in working around other jazzmen, only those two gentlemen will be able to say.

This beautiful CD is well balanced in sound engineering, front to backline balance, featured guests to the rest of the band, popular and rarer tunes and types of rhythm employed.

From ‘Blueberry Hill’ with its gracious nod to the Fat’s Domino R&B version, to ‘John B Calypso’, to the street marching ‘Joe Avery’s Piece/Dippermouth Medley via gospel and dance music’, this Cliff ‘Kid’ Bastien led band (and I am sure that he did provide the lead whilst he was with NOD) will delight you. What was that? A delight? Yes, a New Orleans Delight!

Oh, and while you are listening to the jazz go down, why not read the excellent booklet that is included with the CD.

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com

Music Mecca CD 4054-2 2004,12 tracks, 67 min

When My Dreamboat Comes Home, Sugar Blues, Mama Inez, Old Rugged Cross, When I Leave The World Behind, Breeze, On Treasure Island, Mama’s Gone Goodbye, Begonia, One Sweet Letter From You, True, American Soldier (Bugle Boy March)

As always with New Orleans Delight the interest is always in just how they are going to sound. Yes, I know they always sound good, but how have they made the slight shift in their sound to accommodate and match their current guest. This time they host American Chris Tyle. Now I have a CD of Chris with his Silver Leaf Jazz Band, so I know just how he sounds when at home. Although I enjoy that CD, I feel Chris and the band lack ‘whomph’. That can’t be said of this recording of him with NOD. This CD has all the drive and enthusiasm you expect with Kjeld and his boys and they have carried Chris along with them.

With Silver Leaf Chris plays either cornet or trumpet, but with NOD he also gets to play on his metal clarinet. Knowing Kjeld he was encouraged in this as Mr Brandt do love his metal clarinet and takes great pleasure in playing with others who have the same taste. Now one might expect problems with two clarinets in the front line of a jazz band, but Chris and Kjeld are exceptional here and never, ever, use the same air space, with Kjeld normally letting Chris take the lead whilst he under weaves him. On many of the tunes with the two clarinets, Kjeld uses an alto clarinet, which helps define who is playing what. The combination perhaps could be said to reach its apex on ‘Breeze’ with the result being an interpretation of the tune that must be reckoned as one of the finest around. Now what I am waiting for is for Kjeld to find an excuse to use the yellow plastic clarinet he once admitted he owned!

I think Chris Tyle really enjoyed himself playing and singing with NOD as the music on the album has such verve. My only problem now is that I will have to lend the CD to my old dad who is always asking me if I have anything new by ‘That Delight band’. He knows I had a package from Denmark arrive the other day and he has been sniffing around trying to find out what was in it. Why is that a problem? He likes NOD so much I can’t get the CDs back off him unless I either threaten him with taking legal action to recover my property, or I wait until he goes out and then spend time having a rummage around to see if I can find where he has hidden them. Think I am exaggerating? Buy this CD or any of NOD’s and you will find out just why both he and I like listening to them so much.

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com

Music Mecca CD 4069-2 2005 80 min 12 tracks

Just A Closer Walk With Thee, I Shall Not Be Moved, How Long Has It Been, I’ll Be Somewhere Working For The Lord, San Antonio Rose, By & Bye, Rivers Of Babylon, Softly & Tenderly Jesus Is Calling, Take Your Burdens To The Lord, Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight, God Leads His Dear Children Along, Highways Are Happy Ways

Cliff ‘Kid’ Bastien, well loved, much admired, and little recorded, was persuaded to overcome his dread of flying and leave his adopted Canada to tour Denmark when Kjeld Brandt of New Orleans Delight dangled the bait of the chance to play alongside Cliff’s old friend and ex-band member, tenor player George Berry. Thank God he did, for within a very short period both of them had died and without the recordings made on that tour the jazz world would be much poorer.

All of the tracks on this CD are from a Sorgenfri Kirke concert the band performed in 2002. Some of the tracks have already been released on the Sorgenfri Concert Vol 3 compendium CD. This latest CD is, however, essential buying for all who love Kid Bastien, George Berry, New Orleans Delight, jazz in the Kid Valentine style, jazz gospel or just traditional jazz in general. It is even more essential in that since the Bastien/Berry tour both trombone player Bengt Hansson and pianist Goran Magnusson have left New Orleans Delight.

Everything I wrote about the previous CD of NOD with Kid & George stands. In fact the more I hear the recordings the more I love them. The style is that strange mix of relaxed and exciting that is rarely found, even in the jazz world where the exotic is common place. If this CD is not added to your collection you will be all the poorer for it. Let the moths out of your wallet and delight yourself with this great CD and let the music say it all.

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com 

Music Mecca CD 4091-2 2005 13 tracks, 72 min

The Last Mile Of The Way, In The Garden, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Amazing Grace, I Shall Not Be Moved, Peace In The Valley, This Little Light Of Mine, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, In The Sweet Bye & Bye, Abide With Me, Just A Little While To Stay Here, He Touched Me, You Are My Sunshine

When my old mate, ex-international speedway rider and fellow traditional jazz aficionado Bob Andrews came back from a big jazz festival in Australia he waffled on to me about this amazing gospel and blues singer he had heard called Lee Gunness. He had tried to get a copy of one of her albums, but they had sold out. He said I must hear her and maybe I should try and get a CD via the Internet (he is a bit like that; get someone else to buy a CD and then borrow it). I looked, but finances always seemed strained (I’m a bit like that with money: cautious). However, when I saw this CD putting Lee with one of the world’s finest New Orleans bands, I just had to get it didn’t I.

Lee Gunness is everything Bob said about her and more. This diminutive Ozzie singer has a rich deep voice that belies her size. When you couple her with New Orleans Delight and their guest Norbert Susemihi you have an album that is a must buy. I have listened to NOD for some years now hearing them improve and mature. I have also heard them with some excellent lady singers, but this CD is the ultimate, especially so given my love of gospel. I am not sure what else I can say without sounding like a simpering sycophant, so forget any caution you may have with spending your money, get a copy for yourself, don’t try borrowing it. Play it just the once and you will know why I am saying that this CD belongs in every jazz lover’s collection.

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com 

PS: Since writing this I have lent the CD to my father. Unfortunately he won't give it back, so it looks like I will have to wait until he dies to re-claim it. In view of this I think I will use the CD to play at his funeral when the time comes.

Music Mecca CD 4092-1 2005 12 tracks 76 min

Second Line March, Some Of These Days, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Fidgety Feet, Milneburg Joys, St Louis Blues, Just A Little While, Old Time Religion, Dr Jazz, Hindustan, What A Wonderful World, Saints

It would be nice to think that I helped to instigate this fusion. I came across Greg Stafford a few years back via a Jazz Crusade CD. I was so impressed that I mentioned to Kjeld Brandt, leader of New Orleans Delight, a band that does not have a resident trumpet player, that NOD should try and get Gregg to do a tour with them. This is that tour, but I am sure Kjeld already had it organised as Mr Stafford was already well known to Kjeld’s contacts the other side of the Atlantic plus I am sure I had heard that he had played at the Gothenburg Jazz Festival.

What caught my attention was not only Gregg Stafford’s brilliance on trumpet but the fact that he was a black man from New Orleans. Although we all know that New Orleans and in fact all traditional jazz, is black in origin, we tend to forget that the only regular black faces in the post-war revival bands tended to be the original stalwarts that started the whole thing off years before. In recent years traditional jazz has become mainly a white man’s preserve. Well here is Gregg and he has true New Orleans pedigree straight from the text book having started his career playing in the brass marching bands in that city.

Naturally you will see from the above reviews the esteem in which I hold New Orleans Delight, so their matching with Gregg was bound to be a success. The other guest is British born Canadian Brian Towers on trombone. NOD were between trombone players at that time and Brian proves to be a suitable fill in for the front line, but it really it is Gregg Stafford that this CD belongs to.

The material is hardly startling, but NOD and its guests still manage to serve these old favourites up hot and fresh. It was nice to hear the lyrics to ‘Milneburg Joys’ actually being used and I have had ‘Second Line March’ echoing through my head ever since I started to play the CD, which is a bit disconcerting when trying to sleep at nights. It is, however, these two tracks that stand out and I feel display Gregg's ability and talent. ‘What A Friend We Have In Jesus’ is truly magic, especially as it gives the whole band a chance to shine alongside Gregg. However, Gregg’s rendition of ‘What A Wonderful World’ is, perhaps, the best tune for Gregg as accompanied only by the back line, with the sympathetic Hans Pederson on piano, he takes Louis Armstrong’s tune and makes it his own. Ok, so at the very end he deliberately impersonates Satchmo, but to me it is iconic as I feel that Gregg Stafford is deservedly taking on Old Satchel Mouth’s mantel.

Well done everyone, and when is the next tour and CD due please?

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com 

Music Mecca 2006 14 tracks 72 min

Do Lord, In The Garden, Sweet Fields, He Touched Me, Higher Ground, Amazing Grace, Closer Walk With Thee, St Jude's Hymn, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Sanctus, Lily Of The Valley, How Great Thou Art, Fly Away, His Eye Is On The Sparrow

As a Christian when things get rough and I’m feeling down, I turn my mind to Heaven and what it will be like. No one really knows, though book after book has been written on the topic. To me it surely is all about praising God and thus it must be full of good music. Obviously, therefore, it has to have jazz bands and gospel singers. Well this CD is a taste of Heaven for here is one of the world’s finest jazz bands with one of the best gospel singers around, Marilyn Keller of Oregon, USA, playing and singing music that is more than inspired, it is Spirit driven.

So the tunes are all very familiar ones, but forget that, for here you have them played and sung as they should be. In addition to Marilyn, the band, which has no permanent trumpet player, has guest Derek Winter on trumpet. I have heard them play with many guests on horn, but I always feel that Englishman Derek is the one that fits in the best and makes the band lift up that last notch from excellent to brilliant.

The recordings were made live during the band’s tour of Danish churches in 2005. I am sure the responsive congregation and the acoustics of the venues helped, but I really should mention the high quality of the recordings and tip my hat to sound engineer Jǿgen Vad. So often on live recordings there is an imbalance of sound, be it all so small, but on this album it is spot on.

An extra bonus are the full and comprehensive notes giving information on both the origins of the tunes and the way they are presented on the album.

I could be flippant (or some would say blasphemous) and say that if you don’t buy this CD God will strike you down, but I won’t for it would lower the tone of the review (and upset fellow saints); all I will say is that if you buy it and then play it, be you Christian or no, you will be blessed. Although there is no such thing as perfection this side of Glory, this one comes so very, very, close it doesn’t matter.

The above can be bought from: http://www.cdjazz.com 

NEW ORLEANS DELIGHT with MARILYN KELLER

MY GOD IS REAL

Music Mecca CD 5051-2 2008 73min 15 tracks

Just A Little While To Stay Here, The Old Rugged Cross, Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light Of Mine, My God Is Real, In The Sweet Bye & Bye, Little Wooden Church, Rock Of Ages, We’ll Understand It Better By And By, Take My Hand Precious Lord, Got My Mind Made Up, He’ll Understand And Say Well Done, Amen, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, An Evening Prayer

My wife & I had the opportunity (and desire) to revisit Denmark in 2007. Naturally I checked NOD’s Web site to see if we could get to one of their concerts whilst there. I was delighted to find that we could get to see them when they performed at the church in Gadstrup. The added bonus was that they would have Marilyn Keller with them: I had heard her on a CD of theirs (Music Mecca CD 5012-2) and was full of admiration for her clarity of diction and for the sheer enthusiasm she put into her singing.

Well what can I say other than we were blown away, not just by the quality of the jazz and Marilyn’s singing, but by the wonderful hospitality of the Danes and the friendliness of both the band and Marilyn. That lady is big: big of voice, heart and spirit. If you want to meet someone who will truly move you, get to see her. Her notes on the CD say that it was decided to record ‘live’ as: ‘There is a visitation of the Spirit that occurs when music is being offered honestly and reverently that cannot be matched. The musician, listener, and God are united in heart, mind and soul in a way that exalts everyone in Joy, Peace and Love.’ If you think that sounds a mite trite, you obviously have not heard this lady & NOD sing gospel. The wife & I came away from that concert all a buzz and were delighted when we found that a new CD was to be issued featuring some of the songs we had heard performed that night.

The recordings on this CD are from a later part of the tour and were made at Dagstorp Kyrka in Sweden. All bar ‘Rock of Ages’ feature Marilyn on vocal. Of the recording: the mix is right, the balance is right and NOD are on form and provide spot on sympathetic backing to the singer.

This is such a ‘right’ CD that I have already played and played it. Having ripped it to my MP3 player, I shall now lend it to my jazz loving father and doubt I will see it again till I inherit his estate.

Order your copy today from www.cdjazz.com: it is not so much a purchase as an investment and/or inspiration.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE