Leon Redbone

Leon Redbone – Live – October 26, 1992 The Olympia Theater Paris, France

DixieFrog – DFGCD 8596 / Rounder – 11661-3246-2 [2005]
Sweet Mama Pap’s Gettin’ Mad – She’s My Gal – Up A Lazy River – Polly Wolly Doodle – Waitin’ On You – Marie – Big Time Woman – Piano Interlude – Diddy Wa Diddie – The Whistling Colonel – Ain’t Misbeahvin’ – Goodbye Charlie Blues – Csardas – Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone – Think Of Me Thinking Of You – Sugar – Love Letters In The Sand – I’m Going Home – Play Gypsy Play – Gotta Shake That Thing – So, Relax

Leon Redbone - Live

If you were lucky enough to see Leon Redbone on stage, you already know he was the smoothest time machine ever invented. All you had to do was let yourself be lulled, half close your eyes, and let yourself be transported into a fantasy era mixing the blues of Blind Blake, the country music of Jimmie Rodgers, the jazz of Fats Waller, and the gentle crooning of Bing Crosby. If, unfortunately, you have never had this experience, there are still the albums. There are different live recordings of Redbone on stage, some more or less official, but the best by far is this album recorded at the Olympia in Paris in October 1992. The best, because the sound recording is perfect, managing to capture the atmosphere of the performance, humor included, without distorting it, and the group that accompanies the singer is exemplary: Scott Black on the cornet, the virtuoso Frank Vignola on the guitar, and Dave Boeddinghaus on the piano.
Thanks to subtle and intelligent arrangements complemented by inventive solos, these three sound as if they were a full orchestra of fifteen people. With such a group behind him, Redbone only has to put down his characteristic voice (without forgetting his whistling and his ragtime guitar), this soft and warm voice that envelops and comforts you. And, of course, there is the repertoire, perfect from start to finish, mixing standards, more obscure tunes, and songs composed by Redbone with equal joy. The tour de force of Redbone and his band is to create an intimate atmosphere, giving the impression that they are playing only for you and that they are in your living room.
It is an essential live album that allows us to recreate at home the magic of the timeless music of Leon Redbone, which unfortunately makes his absence more burdensome for us.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Go toTop

Don't Miss