Yet another undeniable (and nicely varied) doozy from Soul Jazz, the 18 enclosed cuts ride that uniquely N.O. (second) line between dressed-up and low-down.
"This new instalment of New Orleans Funk features more classic New Orleans funk in all its forms. The syncopated percussion beat of the second line jazz parade bands, the secret language and dances of the Mardi Gras Indians, the mambo and Latin rhythms of Professor Longhair and the city’s many piano players help make New Orleans a unique musical melting pot.
In the 1960s and into the early 1970s add to this the creative powerhouses of Allen Toussaint, The Meters, Eddie Bo and others alongside the famous musical families of the city--the Nevilles, the Marsalises, the Lasties – and we find ourselves at the birthplace of the original sound of funk - New Orleans Funk.
A seemingly endless line of amazing singers - Lee Dorsey, Betty Harris, Willie West, Eldridge Holmes – released a constant stream of stunning 45s, backed by the super-funk Meters and produced by Allen Toussaint. The multi-talented Eddie Bo, similarly wrote and produced for an elite set of artists including The Explosions, Chuck Carbo and others.
But limited local record distribution meant that most of these artists remained unknown outside of the city borders and as a consequence many of these records are serious collectors items today.