Oui Doux Jazz Oui Doux Jazz came together in 1998 for a purpose unique among jazz ensembles: to provide music for a new Jazz Mass being offered by Christ the King Lutheran Church in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner. Wally Kay, a former Lutheran Pastor, and Joe Hughes, current Pastor of Christ the King, collaborated on a vision: create a worship experience of and for New Orleans folks, and do it with music that can capture peoples' hearts. It didn't take long for this native New Orleans Lutheran pastor, and transplanted Minnesota French Quarter Lutheran musician, to realize the kind of music that could do that. In New Orleans the music that lives in peoples' hearts is jazz, New Orleans jazz. Oui Doux Jazz brings together some of New Orleans' top jazz performers. Every Saturday evening their music brings focus and feeling to the folks who gather for the Christ the King Jazz Mass. But here... they're playing for you. This CD features the best of Oui Doux Jazz, much of it from the Jazz Mass services, and some just for fun! From the plaintive sounds of the Ellington tune "But Beautiful," to the unbridled exuberance of "Swing That Music," to the quiet serenity in "Come Sunday", you'll find here music to stir and soothe the soul. And the next minute, you'll be up "second lining!"
Wine
Cellar Blues Band Beginnings are a fallacy. Actually, what we call beginnings are a point in time and they are a continuation of all the things that brought us to this point. For us, this is a beginning. It's our first attempt to put our creative juices together and produce something that reflects our artistic sides. We came to this point in life from completely different backgrounds. Troy came from Georgia with a technical background. I came from Minnesota with a sales and social services background. Troy can fix anything electrical, especially computers. I can't fix my own lunch. However, as Troy likes to hear me say, "We're not as dumb as we look." Both of us have had extensive musical experiences. While Troy's have been primarily blues, mine have been all over the musical map, from operatic singing to bluegrass, country and jazz. Troy says he loves it when I throw in a jazz lick every so often. All I know is blues is the hardest music to play and if I live long enough, I may begin to get a feel for it. I've known Troy since I moved to New Orleans but had not played together until just before this CD was cut. We tried the electric bass and it was okay but the upright bass seemed to augment Troy's vocal style and instrumentation, reminiscent of the old blues artists. We talked about including other players and instruments but finally decided to do this project on our own. Both of us were pleasantly relieved when we heard the results. So, here we are, "Outta Da Gate An' Bookin'", doing what we enjoy most, making music and laughing at life. I hope you enjoy and laugh, too, because that is how the blues should affect you. Wally Kay
James Mitchell, Jr. James Mitchell, Jr. is a New Orleans native who is not too proud to play on the street. His husky-voiced singing of "oldies and blues" is a testimonial to artists Sam Cook, Otis Redding, Johnny Ace and Joe Simons. He has played for the House of Blues in New Orleans and in California and worked with the Edwin Hawkins Gospel Group, the Autographs, The Young Heart, and the Penguins. Tribute to Atlanta
The Blue Tones
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