New Orleans Delight
featuring Brian Carrick & Derek Winters

Take These Chains - The Holstebro Session

Having been invited to review these two New Orleans Delight CDs "Take These Chains" and "When You And I Were Young - Maggie"
I was a little sceptical of what might be in store.
A New Orleans style combo with Swedish connections based in Denmark combined with two English gentlemen Brian Carrick on tenor saxophone and Derek Winters on trumpet, both of whom are ardent and impassioned with the preservation of the music of the Crescent City, it was all very intriguing. As you will discover my concerns were groundless, good musicians despite colour, creed or race are adept in communicating
with each other in a sympathetic and supportive manner especially in the field of jazz music.

I recall attending a concert in Acapulco when the unexpected also turned out to be a memorable surprise. A group of small stature Mexican gentlemen had abandoned their sombreros, ponchos and Tijuana training and were belting out illustrious Dixieland music with great gusto.

For starters I would suggest you read the liner notes which have been expertly compiled by Marcel Joly. He reviews the history surrounding the origin and later revival of interest in the New Orleans style of jazz music and also provides a glimpse into the profiles of the
guest musicians and their devotion to the cause.

As the CDs were recorded live over two days with the same personnel I will combine my review to embrace both sessions. Despite the duplication of certain tracks on the two discs, the selection of material is well balanced and varied, ranging from the traditional Just a Closer Walk to the
If You See My Saviour by the eminent writer of Gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey, and Burgundy Street Blues by the master himself, George Lewis.

Hank Williams of Country and Western fame penned Take These Chains and Jambalaya and a number entitled Goin’ Home is by
the ‘gov’ner’, Ken Colyer - Britain’s own ambassador to the cause. All the recorded tracks make for interesting and absorbing listening.

New Orleans Delight provides a competent and talented back canvas, which allows the featured guest artists to interweave their tenor sax,
trumpet phrasing and solo playing readily into the scene. Their combined musical talents bind faultlessly together, each in their own way conveying and revealing a united professionalism capturing the essence and flavour of New Orleans style music.
I hesitate to suggest which disc is best; both enjoy their equal share of quality performance.

The unexpected is often the most appealing and interesting.
The following will no doubt whet your appetite for what else these two CDs have to offer.

I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles is no exception, here is a jazz waltz which starts with a pleasant trombone feature and a little choice piano,
leading later to a change of tempo which then gives the band their chance to shine.

When You And I Were Young - Maggie introduces a vocal contribution by saxophonist Brian Carrick as well as the choice trumpet interjections
by his cohort Derek Winters. Surprisingly this tune turns out to suit the New Orleans style treatment admirably.

Tap Room Special is a number I had not come across before and it may or may not have been named after the rather spicy rum and amaretto based cocktail. The musical mix played here features well deserved solo contributions from the piano, bass and drums, and in its own way
is certainly fiery and spicy and well worth a second shot.

Burgundy Street Blues, the George Lewis classic, has Brian Carrick giving a verbal tour of the French Quarter of New Orleans and
he certainly seems to know his way around. A nice clarinet feature.

Lover, the version on disc here is a million miles distant from the Peggy Lee hit number written by Rogers and Hart. It is from the pen of Preservation Hall stalwart Narvin Kimball who passed away in 2006 aged 97. It is certainly a tribute to one of the truly greats of jazz who’s
banjo playing career can be traced back to his days with Fate Marable and Papa Celestin in the 1920’s.
Authentic jazz is reproduced here by a group of ardent followers of the faith.

I will leave it to you to discover what other goodies are to be found within these New Orleans Delight recordings - ENJOY.

When You And I Were Young - The Fredericia Session