Various Artists: A Celebration of New Orleans Music to Benefit MusiCares Hurricane Relief

This post-Katrina compilation contains several essential New Orleans tracks from Rounder’s extensive catalog dating back 25 years. Included here are such classic cuts as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s “Mardi Gras in New Orleans,” Eddie Bo’s “Check Mr. Popeye,” the ReBirth Brass Band’s “Do Whatcha Wanna, Pt. 3,” Irma Thomas’ medley of “Iko Iko/Hey Pocky Way” and Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolia’s “Meet de Boys on de Battlefront.”

Other treats here include Professor Longhair’s “Cuttin Out,” James Booker’s rendition of “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” Walter Wolfman Washington’s “Funkyard,” Jelly Roll Morton’s “I’m Alabama Bound” and Johnny Adams and Aaron Neville’s duet on the spiritual “Never Alone.” Branford Marsalis also managed to sneak in his affecting duet with Harry Connick Jr. on “Good to Be Home” and “B’s Paris Blues.”

All of the proceeds from the sale of this disc will be donated to MusiCares Hurricane Relief.

Originally Published June 1, 2006