Flanfire

Papa Part 2!

Papa says of himself (in the liner notes) that, "I welcome those who occupy the spiritworld - and they know it." He attributes the direction and oversight by spirit beings to his position is a "self-proclaimed and rightly ordained High Deacon of the Divine Assembly of Freaks and Heads." On this recording, he says, the dead comfort the living and the living honor the dead ... from Bossier City to Sugarland."

Indeed, Deacon Papa has assembled quite a cast for "Do Your Thing," recorded in New Orleans pre-Katrina and featuring longtime touring partner and "caveman" drummer Robb Kidd plus a bunch of New Orleans legends AND high school pal Victoria Williams. The ENHANCED CD, played properly, will provide listeners (and viewers) with answers to these key questions:

1 = What band played at Papa Mali's wedding?
2 = What hobby of blind pianist Henry Butler has won him fame?
3 = Which song on the CD has its origins as an Appalachian ballad?
4 = What musicians recently played with Papa Mali at the famed Preservation Hall?

Plus, as you carefully examine the merchandise, you will discover an unannounced track 11, which is in fact "Hallelujah I'm a Dreamer," a song written by Lafayette, Louisiana's David Egan and featuring Papa Mali on acoustic guitar and backing vocals by Victoria Williams. The disc includes a two-part documentary about making this record and a live performance (sans Mari Gras Indians) of "Early in the Morning."

The swamp rock guru opens the collection with Isaac Hayes' classic "Do Your Thing," but with a tone that Brother Hayes may never have envisioned ... and then, surprisingly, Papa is singing like Harry Connick, Jr., on "Honeybee" -- this jazz number is totally unlike anything the dreadlocked one has ever done (to my knowedge, at least) in public much less on disc, with Dirty Dozen Brass Band sousaphonist Kirk Joseph thumping out the rhythm and "the pride of New Orleans" Henry Butler transforming the tune with his piano improvisations of notes that literally fly off his hands. Papa admits this is his crowning moment.

The very next cut is OLD SCHOOL Papa Mali -- "Early in the Morning" - sounds like Nawlins music with Reverend Goat Carson and the Golden Eagle tribe of Mardi Gras Indians (led by Big Chief Monk Boudreaux) -- close your eyes and you are THERE catching beads and eyeing a little FLASH. This is old-time call-and-response music that dates back to ante-bellum days.

After "I Had the Dream" (you will just have to hear it), we move onto one of the PURE PAPA numbers (that dates back to his childhood daze in Shreveport)... as Papa sez, Jimi Wilson wrote some of "Little Moses" with him when they were both kids..... which tells quite a story about Moses (Henry) and the Lawd! Moses told the boys, "It wasn't lightnin' that burned the churchhouse down." Indeed, he began "steppin' out" the very day he started walking ... and "... when the devil is your teacher, then it's the devil you must pay." (And so Moses could not follow his daddy as a preacher) -- He "walks the street and mumbles" and "sleeps out in the cold" because "the only girl he ever loved has put a curse upon his soul."

Then it's time for "Coffee," which is more drum-stomping funk, and "I'm Getting Over It," which tells a sad tale about the guy whose unhappy ex left his car in the swimming pool and his clothes strewed all over the lawn.

My two very favorites on this CD come next -- "Girls in Bossier City" and the incomparable "Sugarland," which should be garnering major airplay on a variety of radio stations (including XM and/or Sirius). Both of these dirges (some call them seances!) feature Papa's mournful guitar and Kidd's pounding drums. "Bossier City" speaks of seeking "the golden crown," while Sugarland surpasses Papa's work (with the Big Chief) on Dr. John's "Walk on Gilded Splinters" from the Thunder Chicken CD. The cut opens with a bold guitar riff, then you hear the sound of water running and more ... and then the mourners begin their chant that leads into Papa's lyrics ... "I will not be forsaken to live and die in Sugarland." The Big Chief later says he is standing at the crossroads "trying to find myself" -- If you see me there, "don't axe me where I'm going.... because I am trying to find my way."

But then Papa pulls yet another surprise with his equally dirge-like rendition of "True Religion" that is very different from the version he does as a member of the Harmonizers or the version done by guitar god Jorma Kaukonen. Victoria and Malcolm are out on Lake Bisteneau or somewhere on Line Avenue in Shreveport and it's 1973 (or so) -- meanwhile, guitar legend Chuck Prophet joins in on electric guitar and percussion (as Papa plays slide), all in a minor key.

Those who regularly see Papa Mali playing some of his myriad guitars may be disappointed there is so little of his powerful and poignant lead lines here. Instead, what you get is the spirit of Louisiana in this wonderful recording and the recognition that Papa Mali may play for free at Maria's but he is one of the nation's - maybe the world's - premiere musical talents, and oh by the way a pretty wonderful chef who once taught a cooking class at Central Market.