Dr. John
Right Place, Right Time – Live at Tipitina’s Mardi Gras ’89
Hyena Records – 9344
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When you are playing in your home city, and you are considered an avatar of the musical culture of that city, and it is the height of Carnival Season before an expectant crowd at the home den, there is an immense pressure; you can dismount and refuse to ride, or rise to the pressure. The good Doctor and his nonpareil group more than rose to the occasion, as this disc shows. On this disc he, and this group of extraordinary musicians, are playing at a peak of their funkiest, most low down, and most out there powers. He stretches and pauses, and says more in his silences than most musicians can when playing full ahead. This is a seasoned group of musicians that he has worked with/known all his playing days, musicians who in their own right are leaders; such as Herman Ernest III on drums, Amadee Castenell (as hot as he has ever been) on saxophones, to name but two of them. The set list covers a broad range of music from the New Orleans standard, “Junco Partner”, an exceptional
version of the standard, “Don’t let the Sun Catch You Crying,” and a tune that he is known for “I Walk On Guilded Splinters.” This disc was pulled from the carefully archived mass of tapes that the good Doctor has kept of his live shows for the past 20+ has playing. He finishes up this 10 song, 50 plus minute disc with some of his most inspired playing on “Such A Night.” A song that belongs as much to him as to all of New Orleans, it sums up that night and the whole of post Katrina New Orleans. This is the playing and spirit that will keep this city going, because they will do it no matter the obstacles. Don’t let this one slide away grab it and “Let The Good Times Roll,” as Earl King says and Dr. John sings.