Natchez, Mississippi. Do you know where it is? Highway 61, baby. A border town separated from Louisiana by the Big Muddy. Creole. Gumbo. The Blues and vivid lyrics. 57 year old Olu Dara could be 27, if one were to simply listen to the lively, folk blues sound. Check that. When he plays his guitar it sounds like folk blues when he grabs his Armstrong-like cornet, you get the bluz-jazz gumbo sound that is unmistakable for that area. If you like the authentic sound of Keb Mo, you’ll be blissed by the forward and genuine sound of Olu Dara.

The song, "Your Lips" is a jumping tribute to, well, lips! In the song "Jungle Jay"; Dara is joined by his son, the multi-platinum selling hip hop artist, Nas. The result is pure late 90’s everything is coming together music. It is a suggestion of what rap can be as an art form, vs it’s deviation into various forms, including the increasingly irrelevant gangster version. Is rap a blues subset? Apparently, the question has become a big controversy. Listen to "Jungle Jay". Perhaps, rap is not a subset but an occasional compliment to the Blues? It contrasts with the sweetly sung, "Harlem Country Girl". Okra and eggplant. Touch of Cayenne. Pretty soon you have some fiery music. Speaking of okra, the song "Okra", along with "Harlem Country Girl", make up two of the signature live pieces. Listening to the disc, one can envision very clearly Olu Dara’s performance.

The lift of Olu Darn is the backbone of his music. Dara leaves college and the South to join the Navy. While in the Navy, he played in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, until the day he was discharged and found himself in New York City. Initially, like all the honed and tempered jazz/blues artists of his era, he tumbled around the club scene in NYC. Eventually he hung on to a long association with Art Blakely & The Messengers. In the 70’s, he moved on to play with folks like, Taj Mahal, Cassandra Wilson, and Brian Eno. Then in the early 80’s he formed his own unit, a spontaneous and highly combustible group alternately known as the seven piece Okra Orchestra or the four piece Natchezsippi Dance Band.

The title of the disc, by the bit of history above, appears to be self-explanatory. However, the title also refers to some of Dara’s work as a composer/musical director. From Natchez to New York, is a musical melodrama, aired on National Public radio, and performed at The Smithsonian

Institute. The first part of the title refers back to his blend of musicians. Explains Dara, "the guitarist is Ghanaian, the percussionist is Congolese, the organ player from the Islands, the trap drummer and sax player are from Cleveland, and the bass player’s from Long Island". World music, indeed!

Quite a man. Quite a disc. Perfect to sit out on he porch, Jack & Ginger in hand, watching winter die (die now, winter, die now!) into spring.

***1/2

-SABA