Held up amongst the true giants of American music, Dr. John remains a restless, enigmatic figure.
On his latest Brighton excursion, the voodoo king of New Orleans delivered a gumbo of classic songs, soulful jams, and cuts from his most recent release: a tribute to Louis Armstrong.
The good doctor has always had an eye for collaborators, and his current group – dubbed The Nite Trippers, and featuring trombonist extraordinaire Sarah Morrow – were certainly an accomplished bunch.
From an eerie Gris Gris Ya Ya to the ever-enduring Right Place, Wrong Time, this was a brilliantly pitched set. Dr. John performed like a demon behind the piano, his lived-in drawl very much intact, and well-suited for Armstrong numbers like What A Wonderful World.
He even threw in a cover of American standard Goodnight, Irene, to the audience’s delight. As ever, the 74-year-old stitched together numerous musical styles, from blues and boogie to jazz and zydeco.
The odd lull aside, it was hard to resist the mystical allure of I Walk On Gilded Splinters and Motherless Child. Even without the spectacle of those notorious early shows, this was a vibrant and distinctive showing.
Evidently, Dr. John still has plenty of juice in the tank.
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