Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack: Dr. John - All By Hisself (2003)

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: October 17, 2003

Mac Rebennack allowed producer Joel Dorn to peer into his bag of tricks, and out popped the first of what promises to be several releases of the good Doctor in concert. For consideration here is a live show at the Lonestar Restaurant in New York City, recorded in 1986. Dr. John Swings through a collection of songs well known to him all played in that New Orleans piano style fashioned by Champion Jack Dupree, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, and Rebennack himself. Rebennack is playing with a synthesized grand piano sound that gives his left hand tremendous power and the momentum to propel his set to a Mardi Gras frenzy. "Swanee River Boogie" and "Stagger Lee" open the show, and you know things are underway when you hears the words,

I was standing on the corner, when I heard my bulldog bark?

Also included are splendid renditions of Rebennack?s "Average Kind of Guy," "Such a Night," "and "Right Place At the Wrong Time." Rebennack closes the show with the tropical standard, "Iko, Iko" and a blazing Huey Smith medley of "Rockin? Pneumonia." High Blood Pressure," "don?t You Just Know It," and "Don?t You Know Yockomo." This is fun and happy music of which this writer hopes there is much more to come.

For more information, visit Skinji Brim Records .

Track Listing: Disc 1 (CD) Swanee River Boogie; Stagger Lee; Average Kind Of Guy; Sick And Tired; Such A Night; Qualified; Something You Got; Junco Partner; Travelin? Mood; Let?s Make The World A Better Place; Iko, Iko; Rocking Pneumonia/High Blood Pressure/Happy Times/Don?t You Just Know It/Don?t You Know Yockomo. Disc 2 (DVD) Mac Rebennack Plays And Sings The Music Of New Orleans.

Personnel: Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack?Piano, Vocals.

Record Label: Skinji Brim/Hyena
Style: Blues