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“New Orleans Sessions shines a jubilant light on a neglected period of NOLA culture. Blue Moon Marquee deserves a parade”
I enjoyed airing the previous BMM release, and this one will be fun too. The obvious chemistry between A.W. and Jasmine propels this set, one in which the recording itself stands nearly as tall as the performances captured. Listening in headphones and noting what I think of as 'wide mono' instead of a stereo field, the meld of instrumental sounds with vocals being sung as if to be heard over the instruments (not monitored in headphones and perfected in mix adjustments) is a refreshing escape from contemporary styles that contain each track input in its own compression, reverb and eq, resulting in fine isolation but sacrificing what the instruments themselves have to say to each other about getting to play together.
On this week’s Traffic Jams Album Feature with Lisa Wilton
CKUA Traffic Jams - Listen now
CKUA favourites @BlueMoonMarquee are currently sitting on number one on the Top 30 chart with their latest album, New Orleans Sessions.
But ten years ago, the duo of A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Collette were just starting to make a name for themselves with their blend of swing jazz, blues and roots.
On this week’s Traffic Jams Album Feature, Lisa Wilton @lisackua plays a few highlights from their first demo, Lonesome Ghosts, released in 2014.
Tune in Thursday, Dec 12 at 5:30 pm MT to hear more.
Listen live at ckua.com or if you missed it, listen later with ondemand.ckua.com
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“Blue Moon Marquee drops the listener into a no-name joint with the most interesting house band around”
Dennis Rozanski, North Jersey Blues Society
Their blues—original as well as recast—come scuffed, torn around the edges, sneeringly tough, and hauntingly stranded in a time and place of their own making. Not the proverbial Chicago club, though. Nor the southern juke joint. Not even the neighborhood taproom. Too classy; too bright; too commonplace.
#1 on the National Folk/Roots/Blues Charts this week!
Holaayyy #1 on the National Earshot Charts.
Feelin the love, thank you for listening and requesting ‘New Orleans Sessions’
Hope you have been playing it loud and having kitchen dance parties.
What’s your fave tune off the new album?
a winning formula all their own, and I wouldn’t want to mess too much with the ingredients.
Going to sound like my dad here, but I’ll challenge anyone not to tap your toes listening to the new upbeat, old-timey New Orleans Sessions from Canadian duo Blue Moon Marquee.
"bringing some of the forgotten songs from yesteryear back to life with a new dance tempo"
It’s a tall order for any person or group to fully capture the New Orleans feeling, vibe, and impact on the music industry, past and present.
But that hasn’t stopped many groups from trying.
The latest entry comes from far outside the Big Easy with this new release from Blue Moon Marquee, the core of which is a well-regarded duo from Western Canada’s British Columbia.
“the results are a live off the floor feel and music created in its purest form“
Shining among the original tracks are the boozy and bluesy “Some Ol’ Day”, the swampy and funky country blues number “Trickster Coyote” and the blues moaner about being wildly in love “What I Wouldn’t Do”-
a superb set of blues standards and originals..
Graham Clarke - Blues Bytes, Phoenix Blues Society
The album opens with four of the five covers, beginning with a rollicking take on Memphis Minnie’s “Black Rat Swing,” highlighted by Colette’s vocal, Coogan on piano, and Abrams’ baritone sax break. Next is a lively reading of Leadbelly’s “Ain’t Goin’ Down” with the pair taking call and response vocals, and Bo Carter’s “Let’s Get Drunk Again,” where they share raucous lead vocals with stellar backing from the band on both tracks….
"these two, with the help of some of Louisiana’s finest, hit the nail on the head."
‘previously struck paydirt with its ‘Scream, Holler & Howl’, now ups the ante on its terrific Crescent City tribute ‘New Orleans Sessions’…”
"The essence of a very good time is delivered on an album that should inspire your next social gathering."
"a mix of original and early 20th century, proves to be just right. The effect is spectacular." "Highly recommended if you wish today’s music lived up to how you’ve always heard it used to be" "Each note draws the listener in, closer to the music, closer to the stories, closer to the atmosphere of the world of the music, and, ultimately, to why we love good old fashioned jazz."
“4 Stars! A joyful recreational album, whose spontaneous and good-natured character is most often contagious"
Patrick DALLONGEVILLE, Paris Moves
“Our friends have recruited local musicians for the occasion: pianist BC Coogan, saxophonist Danny Abrams and drummer Nicholas Selnick, who establish an omnipresent vintage ragtime groove, as evidenced by Leadbelly’s “Ain’t Going Down” that follows (for which our duo shares the vocal parts). We venture even further into the underworld with Bo Carter’s “Let’s Get Drunk”, driven by a lazily swaying rhythm, where Coogan’s thumping piano and baritone sax operate the pump….”
"…his emotion in gravel-pitted lockstep with the drama acted out by the band. Talk about real deal!"
"their voices create a beautiful stir amid such raw music making. In a word, they are perfect together. . . ‘Scream, Holler, & Howl’, was awarded a JUNO for Blues Album of the Year. They also swept the Maple Blues Awards, winning Album, Songwriter, Acoustic Act, and Entertainer of the Year. If the vibrant New Orleans Sessions doesn’t earn more of the same and then some, I’ll eat my voodoo top hat, peacock feather and all."
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