Hot on the heels of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival’s celebration of the music of Brazil, comes the release of the keyboardist’s stunning new album, which features music paying tribute to several under recognized Brazilian composers and placing them squarely in New Orleans’ multicultural landscape.
The nine tracks feature numerous musicians who will be familiar to local listeners because of their own involvement with Brazilian styles and/or as mainstays of the New Orleans musical community.
Drummers Gerald French and Doug Belote, bassist and sousaphonist Matt Perrine, bassist Tommy Sciple, guitarists Steve Masakowski, Scott Myers and Brian Seeger, trumpeter Eric Lucero, saxophonists Brent Rose and Ray Moore, trombonist Rick Trolsen, cellist Jack Craft, and percussionist Michael Skinkus all contribute. Saxophonist Jason Mingledorff plays a critical role on the bass clarinet.
Though Charlie Dennard’s name may not ring loudly to new New Orleanians, he was a critical part of the late 1990s world music scene in New Orleans. He also worked with Galactic drummer Stanton Moore in the sorely missed organ combo Five O’clock Charlie.
Check out his work with Moore in the vid above. Since his days in the Crescent City Dennard has covered the world as a musical director for Cirque Du Soleil.
