The New Orleans Nightcrawlers, a ten-piece brass band consisting of two trumpets, two trombones, two tenors, baritone, sousaphone, snare drum and bass drum, infuses their variety of dixieland and traditional brass band music with r&b and funk. More tied to the tradition than
the Dirty Dozen Brass Band tended to be,
the Nightcrawlers' first album is quite enjoyable. The group has strong soloists, consistently high musicianship, plenty of diversity and hard-driving swing, and excellent high-note trumpet work from
Barney Floyd. Highlights include "Bourbon St. Parade," "Just A Little While To Stay Here," "Gwine" (which finds the band sounding ragged a la
Charles Mingus) and "Sidewalk Strut." Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow