This fun-loving, feisty group of veteran New Orleans musicians has several unique origin stories: one finds their producer Ken Hatley and vocalist/bassist Paul R. Boudreaux forming their first band while serving together in Germany in 1965. The other finds them reunited in the Crescent City in the early '90s when Hatley was there producing Lester Chambers, and Boudreaux and vocalist/trumpeter Willie Lockett were playing clubs together after touring with everyone from
Joe Simon and
Irma Thomas to
the Neville Brothers. Now refashioned as the
All Purpose Blues Band -- whose lineup includes vocalist/guitarist Billy Gregory and drummer Tony D'Alessandro -- the members bill themselves as a blues band. Thanks to second vocalist Billy Gregory, however, they also have elements of a classic soul band. The songs featuring his leads, including the sultry, brass-tinged ballad "From Memphis" and the simmering cover of "A Change Is Gonna Come," balance Lockett's gruff, sandpapery vibe on the feistier (and sometimes humorous) songs in the set, including the establishing romp "Going Back to New Orleans," the quirky "I'm Your Hambone," and the funk-blues jam "Willie on the Phone." Though the singalong title track also has a comical edge, the concept sums up the mix of rootsiness and elegance that drives the collection. ~ Jonathan Widran