Brian Quezergue - bass,
Jay Griggs - guitar,
Robert Campo - trumpet,
Brian Murray - trumpet,
Craig Klein - trombone,
Michael Skinkus - percussion,
James Ricky Sebastion - drums,
Bruce P. Elsensohn - piano,
Carl Blouin - bari sax,
Alonzo M. Bowens Jr. - tenor sax,
Troy Davis - drums,
Clyde Kerr - trumpet,
Herman V. Ernest - drums,
David Barard - bass,
Dr. John - piano,
Tony Digradi - bari and tenor sax,
John Vidacavich - drums,
Gary Brown - tenor sax,
Luther Kent - vocals,
Dylan Hicks - drums,
Barney Floyd - trumpet,
Rick Trolson - trombone,
Eric Traub - tenor sax,
Leslie Smith - vocals,
Michael Pallera - piano,
Hurley Blanchard - drums,
Sam Henry - piano,
Rebecca Barry - tenor sax,
James Webber - trumpet ,
Bernard Johnson - drums,
Jenny Guthrie - vocals,
Jason Mingledorff - bari sax,
Ben Singleton - trombone,
Doug Belote - drums,
Bobbie Griggs - vocals
Influences
New Orleans-----Thanks to Wendy Oxenhorn and all the crew at The Jazz Foundation of America. They put New Orleans
musicians to work when there was no work and that helped us all more than I can say. Special thanks
to Agnis Varis for making this project possible. Thanks to Jay Griggs for contracting the musicians.
Without him it just wouldn't have happened. Thanks to the wonderful musicians that were on the record.
Thanks to Tim Stambaugh for recording it and all the engineers who had a hand in finishing it. ------
Wardell Quezergue
Wardell Quezergue
Wardell is the greatest undescovered arranger, producer, band leader and maestro of New Orleans
music. He made people sound good and then they became famous. From the Dixie Cups "Ico" and "Going
to the Chappel" to King Floyd's "Groove Me", from Gene Night's "Mr Big Stuff" and Dorothy Moore's
"Misty Blue" to Robert Parker's "Bare Footin", he could make a band kick better than anybody.
My favorite experience with a big band was Wardell's Royal Dukes. He had a killer show and opened for
all the acts coming through town. He played stuff that was different for those days. He directed with his
body and he used that in the studio. Things he did made you feel it more than just reading the chart.
People like Lionell Hampton, Slide Hampton and Joe Scott all respect him and they've never met him.
He just does stuff that's not in a zone where anybody else does, but it works.
Wardell always new when things were b.s. He comes from his spirit and not from his ear drums, and
when he writes, it's the most natural and easiest things you can imagine. He's original on every level.
I think it's important that people know what Wardell did and continues to do.
He hits so many nerves with so many people.
----Dr. John----
Wardell, Thanks so much for letting me and my boys hang out at the Luther Kent recording session (well actually Allyn Robinson let us sneak in.) They are aspiring 15 year old musicians and it is something they'll never forget. (I loved your comment about Stormy Monday - hee hee) ps my ex-husband Cranston and I still owe you a Chinese dinner for letting us have your room in Switzerland 16 years ago
