Time: 47:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Blues Jazz
Art: Front
01. I Thought You Were The Right One (5:23)
02. Don't Pass Me By (Radio Edit) (3:55)
03. San Francisco Bay (2:58)
04. The Blues Aren't The Songs We Sing (4:18)
05. Easy Street (4:09)
06. Sweet Maybe (3:55)
07. Monongahela (I Remember) (4:05)
08. Im Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter) (2:37)
09. Like A Circle (Around The Sun) (5:31)
10. Adios (4:58)
11. Don't Pass Me By (Complete Version) (5:21)
It's rare that a group of Grammy honorees will come together for the debut recording of a new artist, but that's the case for Happy, by critically-acclaimed performer Will Porter. Produced and arranged by the legendary Wardell Quezergue in New Orleans, this CD features multi-Grammy winner Billy Preston (who appears prominently on the newly mixed/released stripped down version of The Beatles' "Let it Be"). Also on board are New Orleans iconic guitarist Leo Nocentelli, honored by the Grammies for his work with The Meters, and Atlantic/Stax Soul Queen Barbara Lewis, (two-time Grammy nominee), in her first studio work in decades. Quezergue brought together New Orleans top rhythm section, led by famed drummer Bunch Johnson, and 14 strings from The Louisiana Philharmonic! Mic Gillette (of Tower of Power horns) led a "Best of the Bay Area" Horn section on Wardell's charts. The icing on the cake is the final mastering by the only engineer to win a Grammy for mastering (for the "Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack), Gavin Lurrsen.
Wardell Quezergue, though you may not recognize his name (Kuh-zair), is named by historians as "The Architect of the New Orleans Sound", and by Allan Toussaint as "The Creole Beethoven". Also an award winning classical composer and conductor, he is responsible for Dr. John's Grammy-winning "Going Back to New Orleans", the WC Handy-winning Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and dozens of hits, including Barefootin, Mr Big Stuff, Iko Iko, Groove Me, Misty Blue, and many more. His work with Aaron Neville (Orchid in the Storm) has just been re-released. He has worked with Pop and Soul acts from Paul Simon to Stevie Wonder, blues artists including BB King and Etta James, and every major New Orleans act. His time-line as arranger, producer or songwriter runs from Professor Longhair to Mariah Carey.
Wardell Quezergue, though you may not recognize his name (Kuh-zair), is named by historians as "The Architect of the New Orleans Sound", and by Allan Toussaint as "The Creole Beethoven". Also an award winning classical composer and conductor, he is responsible for Dr. John's Grammy-winning "Going Back to New Orleans", the WC Handy-winning Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and dozens of hits, including Barefootin, Mr Big Stuff, Iko Iko, Groove Me, Misty Blue, and many more. His work with Aaron Neville (Orchid in the Storm) has just been re-released. He has worked with Pop and Soul acts from Paul Simon to Stevie Wonder, blues artists including BB King and Etta James, and every major New Orleans act. His time-line as arranger, producer or songwriter runs from Professor Longhair to Mariah Carey.
Happy!