For those not in the know, from the sparkling waters of Lake Pontchartrain to the mouth-watering Creole cuisine, the cultural tapestry of the French Quarter to, of course, the exhilarating music that fills the air, New Orleans is world renowned for the dazzling gems that make it the extraordinary city that it is.

The life of the city breathes through its hometown heroes; who Delfeayo Marsalis triumphantly celebrates on Crescent City Jewels, the latest album with his Uptown Jazz Orchestra.

1. Sidewalk Sizzle
2. A Sleepin’ Bee
3. Ooh Poo Pah Doo
4. Basie Moods
5. Valley of Prayers
6. El Ultimo Cafe
7. High Cotton
8. Summertime
9. Exactly Like You
10. Inner Urge
11. ‘Round Midnight
12. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
13. Basin Street Blues
14. What A Difference A Day Makes
15. Lil Liza Jane

This vibrantly hued, colorful and veritably glistening new recording opens on the upbeat Sidewalk Sizzle and the sparkling A Sleepin’ Bee and then we get brought forth the joyous sing-along of Ooh Poo Pah Doo, the languishing Basie Moods, and then come the perky Valley of Prayers, a dulcet ache within El Ultimo Cafe and the melodically-sculpted High Cotton.

They are all then followed by the sunny disposition always brought forth on the much beloved Summertime, which is in turn backed by the finger-snapper Exactly Like You, the feisty Inner Urge, then we get a low slung rendition of ‘Round Midnight, the album rounding out on the impassioned I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free, the late night, smokey jazz cub appeal of Basin Street Blues, a sultry What A Difference A Day Makes, and after a forty second flighty jam of an intro, comes to a close on a harmoniously gentile rendition of the traditional Lil Liza Jane.

Official Website