The blue book of Storyville

"An easy-going singer, virtuoso of the banjo and larger-than-life character, Don Vappie is as New Orleans as they come. His mixed-race Creole ancestors were living in the city before Napoleon sold it to the US in 1803. A century later, Creoles, still speaking their own version of French, accounted for many of the city's early jazz musicians, and Vappie (originally Vapaille) is making sure nobody forgets any of it. Not that they'd want to after experiencing this lively collection of traditional Creole songs, old jazz standards and Vappie originals".

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"The music they make is rooted in the jazz that was created in New Orleans a century ago and they use it to explore what Vappie calls a 'Creole vibe.' Thus things vary from 'Buddy Bolden's Blues' - a jazz standard - through the traditional Haitian song 'La Ville Jacmel' to the celebration of St Lucia 'Port Bayou St John' and 'Abandon', a composition by the late Martiniquais composer Loulou Boislaville. Across the album the ensemble play with ease and imagination, with Vappie singing on certain numbers. The acoustic instruments allow lots of space so that the music really breathes. Was this how the port of New Orleans sounded a century ago as musicians from across the Caribbean arrived and meshed? Music that's languid and lively and Creole in character".