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Checking Out the Hot 8 Brass Band at the Howlin’ Wolf

After a steak dinner at Crescent Steak House and a dessert at Angelo Brocato’s, I drove back to my hotel and tried to decide whether to go to a gig my homeboy Edward Jackson was on at the Blue Nile, or to hear Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson at Snug Harbor, or to check out the @Hot8BrassBand at the Howlin Wolf on South Peters. I soon realized that the Howlin Wolf was a block from the Courtyard by Marriott where I was staying, so I walked down there and checked out the Hot 8 Brass Band’s weekly Sunday night set. Even though I was exhausted from four hours of second-lining, I had a ball. The Hot 8 Brass Band have recently released a new album entitled The Life and Times of the Hot 8 Brass Band, and I bought a copy at the gig. You can keep up with new releases and scheduled appearances of the band by visiting http://www.hot8brassband.com/#12c/custom_plain or liking them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hot-8-Brass-Band/7758779639.

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The Jazz Corner of the World

Treme, recently famous due to an HBO television series, deserves to be famous for other things. It is said to be the oldest Black neighborhood in America, and is most likely the neighborhood where jazz music was born.

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Live Soul at Acoustix, Atlanta GA

When Phillippia finished her Acoustix set, an R & B singer named D-Metro came on stage and did one song before the end of the night, to get people ready for his appearance at the club the following weekend, Atlanta GA, 11/24/12

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Phillippia Live at the Alley Bar at Acoustix, Atlanta GA

When the jazz in Acoustix Restaurant upstairs had come to an end, I walked downstairs into the Alley Bar, where an incredible young soul/funk band was backing up several singers. I was especially impressed with the drummer, whose sense of “pocket” and chops kept the band tight. The headliner proved to be a soul singer named Phillippia (@stayaddicted10), who apparently has a certain degree of fame in the Atlanta market. Originally from Miami, she skillfully blends neo-soul, traditional soul and R & B covers, reggae, and the occasional hip-hop/hardcore reference, as in her single “Addicted to My Grind.” She has a great stage persona and a decent voice, and with such a first-rate band backing her, the night was truly amazing. You can hear some of Phillippia’s music at http://www.reverbnation.com/phillippia, or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/stayaddicted10.

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Live Jazz at Acoustix, Atlanta GA

Acoustix Jazz Restaurant and Lounge is a fairly-upscale spot on Marietta Street in Atlanta, west of downtown. It features a restaurant with live jazz of a more traditional sort until 11 PM on weekends, and a downstairs basement lounge called the Alley which features more neo-soul, funk and contemporary jazz and which stays open slightly later. Parking can be hard to come by, and seats can fill up quickly, so it’s good to make reservations, or at least arrive early. You can keep up with the live music schedule at http://www.acoustixjazz.com/, or like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/acoustixjazz.

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Live Soul at Cafe 290, Atlanta GA

Café 290 advertises itself as a jazz bar, but it’s actually more of a place for R & B and soul. Still, the musicianship is good, the place has a friendly vibe, and it’s usually packed to the rafters. On the Friday night after Thanksgiving, I came through to catch the end of William Green’s set. Keep up with the live music schedule at Café 290 by visiting http://www.cafe290atlanta.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-290/173901131974?sk=info.

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Decatur CD: What A Record Store Should Be

For years I somehow missed @DecaturCD. I thought of it as an indie rock store, and I wasn’t wrong, but I was wrong. They have a great selection of indie rock, but that’s only the beginning. Add to that the best selection of jazz discs in Atlanta, and decent sections for soul, blues, Louisiana music, folk and reggae. Then imagine a decent selection of vinyl. Fans of the super-cool reissue label Numero will be pleased to find a complete stock of Numero releases in a special section in the store. Of course if you don’t live in Atlanta or get there frequently, you may feel disappointed, but don’t, because Decatur CD cheerfully accepts orders over the phone, and ships anywhere in the world. This is truthfully one of the best record stores in the South, if not the whole country. Visit them at http://decaturcd.blogspot.com/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decatur-CD/210532542327753 or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/decaturcd. 

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