Bluesiana Triangle - Bluesiana Triangle I (1990)

The greatest Dr. John Album that hardly anyone knows exists. This classic also features Art Blakey and Dave "Fathead" Newman of Ray Charles fame. It's Intense from beginning to the endand features classics like for all we know sung by Blakey. It also features the best version of "when the saints go marching in" I've ever heard. It's a shame Label Windham hill went under and no one has re-released this classic as it's one of Mac Rebenacks best. ~ hee haw, 5 Stars, Amazon.com.
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A real stand-out CD
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I have close to 1,000 CD's (alternative, blues, country, rock, zydeco, you name it), and this is one of my favorites. It makes me smile just to see the jacket, and I'm always swept away by the music. If you like music that's bluesy and fun and jamming with instruments galore and that New Orleans flair, have a listen! I've had this for many years and have never gotten tired of it. ~ OKshopper, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. 

Windham Hill Records, WD-0125, 1990
Recorded and mixed March, 1990 at Acme Studios, Mamaroneck, New York 

Musicians:
Dr. John - Piano, Organ [Hammond], Guitar, Vocals
Art Blakey - Drums, Vocals (#7)
David "Fathead" Newman - Saxophones, Flute, Backup Vocals (#3)
Essiet Okon Essiet - Bass, Backup Vocals (#3)
Joe Bonadio - Percussion, Vocals (#7) 

Tracks:
1. Heads Up {David "Fathead" Newman} (5:44)
2. Life's A One Way Ticket {"Cousin" Joe Pleasant} (5:35)
3. Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me {Public Domain} (10:15)
4. Need To Be Loved {Art Blakey, David Newman, Mac Rebennack} (3:42)
5. Next Time You See Me {Earl Forest, Bill Harvey} (4:50)
6. When The Saints Go Marchin' In {Traditional} (6:19)
7. For All We Know {Fred Coots, Samuel M. Lewis} (6:37) 

Total Time: 43:02 

Credits:
Producer - Joe Ferry
Executive Producer - Sam Sutherland
Producer, Engineer - Peter Denenberg
Assistant Engineer - Thom Leinbach
Art Direction - Anne Robinson
Design - Candace Upman
Photography [Cover] - John F. Cooper
Photography [Back] - Ebet Roberts 

Heads Up

Bluesiana Triangle - Bluesiana II (1991)

After Blakey's death, the group released this second album, featuring drummer Will Calhoun (who replaced Art Blakey), trombonist Ray Anderson, bassists Essiet Okon Essiet and Jay Leonhart (on different tracks), and percussionist Joe Bonadio. 

Previously, Windham Hill Records released Bluesiana Triangle, a jazz trio album by drummer Art Blakey, pianist Dr. John, and reed man David "Fathead" Newman. Blakey passed away in 1990, but in the spring of 1991, Dr. John and Newman organized this second Bluesiana session, featuring trombonist Ray Anderson, drummer Will Calhoun, bassists Essiet Okon Essiet and Jay Leonhart (on different tracks), and percussionist Joe Bonadio. The resulting music again justifies the name, blues played in a funky Louisiana style with plenty of room for extended jazzy soloing. Though much of the material was written by Dr. John and he does sing occasionally, this is not a conventional Dr. John vocal album. It does contain some excellent playing, however. ~ by William Ruhlmann, AMG. 

Windham Hill Records, 01934 10133 2, 1991
Recorded 22nd-25th April, 1991 at Acme Studios, Mamaroneck, New York 

Musicians:
Dr. John - Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Ray Anderson - Trombone
David "Fathead" Newman - Saxophone, Flute
Essiet Okon Ossiet - Bass (#6-9)
Jay Leonhart - Bass (#1-5)
Will Calhoun - Drums
Joe Bonadio - Percussion 

Tracks:
01. Fonkalishus {Ray Anderson, David Newman, Mac Rebennack} (5:59)
02. Doctor Blooze {Mac Rebennack} (3:33)
03. Cowan Woman {Mac Rebennack} (6:51)
04. For Art's Sake {Ray Anderson, Mac Rebennack} (8:13)
05. Skoshuss {Mac Rebennack} (5:19)
06. Love's Parody {Will Calhoun} (3:30)
07. Santa Rosalia {Mac Rebennack} (5:33)
08. San Antone {Public Domain} (4:30)
09. Montana Banana {David "Fathead" Newman} (5:30)
10. Tribute To Art {Will Calhoun} (6:52) 

Total Time: 55:50 

Credits:
Producer - Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman
Producer, Mixing Engineer - Joe Ferry
Executive Producer, Mixing - Sam Sutherland
Producer, Engineer, Mixing - Peter Denenberg
Assistant Producer - Shari Weingarten
Engineer - Thom Leinbach
Mixing - Will Calhoun
Mastering - Ted Jensen [Sterling Sound, NY]
Art Direction, Design - John Sullivan, Dennis Gallagher
Photography - Ray Anderson, Jay Leonhart, John F. Cooper, William Claxton
Illustration - Debbie Drechsler 

Cowan Woman

Dr. John with Donald Harrison Band - Funky New Orleans (1991)

Dr. John has been described as "The Living Embodiment of New Orleans Culture". His raspy voice and eccentric fusion of New Orleans R&B, Rock and Mardi Gras have created a unique 'voodoo' sound, aptly demonstrated on these thrilling 1991 sessions with the Donald Harrison Band. This 1991 album comes armed with this unique style and better yet with such passionate energy. Dr. John teams up with the Donald Harrison Band to reproduce the various musical explorations and endeavors Dr. John has brought so far through his music and song writing. His charm is fully revealed through the magical voodoo music and the blues performances that he leads on piano. The upbeat 'Hu-Ta-Nay' sets the voodoo magic in motion, quickly followed by the fun and funky and bluesy numbers 'Big Chief', 'Shave 'Em Dry', and 'Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay', which are strongly inspired by his early days, are truly unparalleled and fervent, enjoy! 

Metro Records, METRCD002, 2000
Recorded 22nd-23rd May, 1991 (#1,9) in New York;
16th-17th November, 1991 (#2-8) Live at Birdland, New York 

Personnel:
Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) - Piano, Guitar, Vocals, Whistling
Donald Harrison Jr. - Alto Saxophone
Stephen Scott - Piano
Cyrus Chestnut - Piano (#1)
Dwayne Burno - Bass
Phil Bowler - Bass (#1)
Carl Allen - Drums
Harol “Smiley” Rick - Percussion (#1)
Donald Harrison Sr. - Vocals (#1) 

Tracks:
1. Hu-Ta-Nay {Donald Harrison} (6:17)
2. Big Chief {Earl Gaines, Wardell Querzergue} (5:17)
3. Shave’em Dry {Lucille Bogan} (5:17)
4. Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay {Donald Harrison} (6:53)
5. Mamzelle Zizi {Mac Rebennack} (5:43)
6. Livin’ On Borrowed Time {Mac Rebennack} (9:18)
7. You Ain’t So Such A Much {Mac Rebennack} (6:36)
8. Hu-Ta-Nay {Donald Harrison} (9:16)
9. Walkin’ Home {Donald Harrison, Jr., Mac Rebennack} (2:23) 

Total Time: 57:07 

Liner Notes - Neil Slaven 

Big Chief

Dr. John - Jazz Fest, New Orleans (198x)

Psychedelic R&B superstar Malcolm (Mac) Rebennack Jr., better known as Dr. John, the piano maestro with the prototypical New Orleans accent was a perennial performer at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans. According to the WBGO announcer Michael Bourne; Dr. John is joined by none other than David "Fathead" Newman, Hank Crawford, Charlie Miller, Renard Poche, Alvin 'Shine' Robinson, Herman Ernest, Kenneth Williams, Robert Montgomery and others. These tracks were brought to my attention by KingCake. So far, he has been unable to clearly identify the tunes. Any suggestions would be appreciated. The sound quality is quite good for a nearly forty-year-old recording. I have done my best to improve its fidelity and trim/fadeout excess applause. In the end for any Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman and Hank Crawford fan it is well-worth acquiring. 

FM Broadcast, American Jazz Radio Festival
Recorded 4th May 198x at Jazz & Heritage Festival, Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans 

Musicians:
Dr. John - Keyboards
David "Fathead" Newman - Saxophone
Hank Crawford - Saxophone
Charlie Miller - Saxophonist, Flute
Renard Poché - Multi-Instrumentalist [Guitar, Trombone etc.,]
Alvin 'Shine' Robinson - Guitar
Herman Ernest - Drums
Kenneth Williams - Guitar
Robert Montgomery - Multi-Instrumentalist
+ Others 

Tracks:
1. Unknown Title (6:00)
2. 13th Floor (10:35)
3. Forever Mine (6:28)
4. Carnegie Blues (6:30)
5. Unknown Title (5:57) 

Total Time: 35:30

Hank Crawford - Roadhouse Symphony (1985)

All of Hank Crawford's many recordings for Milestone in the 1980s and '90s are worth picking up by his fans although this reasonably enjoyable outing is not one of the more essential ones. The soulful altoist is joined by Dr. John on piano and organ, guitarist Melvin Sparks, bassist Wilbur Bascomb, Jr., drummer Bernard Purdie and a five-piece horn section (Houston Person and David "Fathead" Newman get a tenor solo apiece) for a set mostly comprised of group originals plus the old ballad "Say It Isn't So" and Thomas A. Dorsey's spiritual standard "Precious Lord"; Dr. John takes a vocal on his "Tragick Magick." ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Milestone Records, M-9140, 1985
Recorded 5th, 6th & 12th August, 1985 At Quadrasonic Sound, New York City 

Musicians:
Hank Crawford - Alto Saxophone, Arranger, Conductor
Alan Rubin, Randy Brecker - Trumpet
David "Fathead" Newman - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax [Solo] (#B3)
Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone [Solo] (#A1)
Howard Johnson - Baritone Saxophone
Dr. John - Piano, Organ, Vocals (#A2)
Melvin Sparks - Guitar
Wilbur Bascomb Jr. - Bass
Bernard Purdie - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Roadhouse Symphony {Melvin Sparks} (5:48)
A2. Tragick Magick {Mac Rebennack} (4:38)
A3. Jubilee {Hank Crawford} (5:01)
A4. Say It Isn't So {Irving Berlin} (4:48)
B1. Time Is On Our Side {Mac Rebennack, Walter Bullock} (6:12)
B2. Precious Lord {Thomas Dorsey} (5:14)
B3. Sugar Ditch {Hank Crawford} (6:13) 

Total Time: 37:54

Credits:
Producer - Bob Porter
Engineer - Malcolm Addey
Engineer [Assistant] - David Sussman
Mastering - George Horn
Cover, Artwork, Design - Jamie Putnam
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Photography - Phil Bray