Dr John: Tribal | CD review

# Blues

# Dr John

# Pop and rock

(Proper)

Over a 50-year career, Dr John has grown from session man into the presiding spirit of New Orleans (he plays himself in the TV drama Treme). Tribal celebrates his legend with relish. A clutch of spooky swamp blues evoke his early days as the Night Tripper, elsewhere a classy band help the doctor drawl through strutting funk and anguished blues. "Big Gap" and "Only In Amerika" are angry political broadsides from post-Katrina Louisiana, and "Music Came" soars with help from local sax king Donald Harrison. Omnipresent is John's rippling piano, a style that reaches deep into Crescent City history. A heartening return to form.

Contributor

Neil Spencer

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Dr John: Locked Down – review

Dr John adds another feather to his cap, with a little help from Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, writes Kitty Empire

Kitty Empire

31, Mar, 2012 @11:05 PM

Article image
Dr John: Locked Down – review
The collaboration with the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach is an inspired way to update Dr John's sound – and no one makes music like him, writes Dave Simpson

Dave Simpson

29, Mar, 2012 @9:33 PM

Article image
Dr John: the voodoo-fuelled showman who beat his own path through rock
The trailblazer who injected New Orleans R&B with sinister psychedelia will live on as an icon of curdled idealism

Alexis Petridis

07, Jun, 2019 @2:14 PM

Article image
Gris-gris enigma: can a new posthumous release shed light on the elusive genius of Dr John?
How did a middle-class white kid break into New Orleans’ feverish 1950s R&B scene and enjoy a wildly eclectic six-decade career? As a new release puts it: things happen that way

Garth Cartwright

21, Sep, 2022 @11:00 AM

Article image
New Orleans Funk Vol 4: Voodoo Fire in New Orleans 1951-77 – review
(Soul Jazz)

Kitty Empire

11, Dec, 2016 @8:00 AM

Otis Taylor: My World is Gone – review
Colorado singer Otis Taylor mixes 'trance blues' and tough social commentary to focus on the plight of Native Americans, writes Neil Spencer

Neil Spencer

03, Mar, 2013 @12:05 AM

Alabama Shakes: Boys & Girls – review

Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard calls to mind Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, writes Hermione Hoby

Hermione Hoby

07, Apr, 2012 @11:05 PM

Timber Timbre: Hot Dreams review – 'dark evocations in the shadows'

The follow-up album to Creep On Creepin' On continues the seductive blend of blues and country, writes Ally Carnwath

Ally Carnwath

30, Mar, 2014 @12:05 AM

Article image
Lady Nade: Hard to Forget review – a mellow voice drowned out
(Kitchen Studio Records)

Isa Jaward

14, Aug, 2016 @7:00 AM

Ry Cooder: Election Special – review
Ry Cooder takes on America's rightwing politicians on his new album to great effect, writes Kitty Empire

Kitty Empire

01, Sep, 2012 @11:04 PM