Review:

New Orleans Delight
Featuring Greg Stafford & Brian Towers
Music Mecca CD 4092-2

New Orleans Delight is a successful Danish band with several CDs also available on the music Mecca label. Some of these feature visiting musicians from overseas, as here at a concert recorded in 2004. Featuring New Orleanian Greg Stafford and trombonist Brian Towers from Canada replacing the bands regular brass men.

Overall I found this to be a very pleasant CD to listen to, well balanced and swinging with excellent cohesion between the visitors and the home team. The rhythm section pulses along nicely and I was particularly impressed by pianist Hans Pederson, although it is perhaps unfair to single out one musician from a unit that works so well as a section. It seems ridiculous to refer to Greg Stafford at 50 as one of the younger generation of traditionally styled New Orleans trumpet players, but unfortunately this does seem to be the case. His somewhat rolling style takes a bit of getting used to, but he lays down a solid lead, puts his vocals across with conviction, and solos impressively throughout. Brian Towers and the sometimes slightly under-recorded Kjeld Brandt provide excellent support, and solo and occasionally duet well, making this a well balanced front line in a well put together live session.

The choice of numbers is varied with a mixture of standards, hymns, a couple of crowd-pleasers at the end and a march, which I found an unfortunate choice for the opening number, as it gives the impression of over-recorded drums, but overall, a well balanced concert selection. A nicely produced CD with full notes on Greg Stafford and Brian Towers by NOM contributor Marcel Joly, but unfortunately nothing about New Orleans Delight, so presumably to obtain this information one has to refer to their other CDs. Nevertheless, very enjoyable, well produced and recorded, and worthy of purchase.

- Charlie Crump



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