John “Papa” Gros

John “Papa” Gros is a New Orleans staple. A songwriter, bandleader, producer and session player, he has been involved with all the NO greats of the last thirty years, and this album is a tribute to those who influenced him and played with him over the year. People such as Allen Toussaint, Dr John, Billy Preston, The Meters, Levon Helm.

If you want funk, there is little better than the opening number, Johnny Lang’s ‘Quitters Never Win’, the whole band cookin’ a mess of N’Orleans Gumbo. Papa on vox, piano, wurly, organ, Alex Mallet- guitars, Matt Booth – bass, Russ Broussard – drums, Michael Christie- trumpet, Ian Bowman - tenor saxophone, Terrance Taplin – trombone and all firing on all cylinders.

That leads into a stunning version of Thom Schuyler, Keith Stegall, and Stewart Harris’s ‘Hurricane’ – most commonly known by Levon Helm’s version. Loaded with emotion as the song describes attitudes to a hurricane coming in across Lake Ponchartrain – “nobody taught her that it takes a lot of water, to wash away New Orleans”.

‘All That I Got’ is a superb dance number, led by Gros piano and some stunning horn punctuation (Papa Gros did all the arrangements).

Then its’ back to the funk with a dark and dirty version of Allen Toussaint’s ‘Yes We Can Can’. Powerful drum line leads to a funk laden horn and THAT bass. One to get the ass twitching and shoulders shaking.

The album closer is a brilliant version of The Meters ‘Ain’t No Use’’ Soulful and with a stunning organ tone. Gros vocals are really expressive, and the backing vocals really bring the song out. A Sly Stone like break leads into a great organ solo – nearly 11 minutes of brilliant soul with Stax written all over it.

Brilliant album and a great listen.