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Last Friday Papa Mali brought his band the Instagators back to New Orleans, a city he readily admits has played an integral role in his life. Also along for the ride was MOFRO, the Florida swamp easy grooving soul machine. This combination made for a special night at Tipitina's, and marked the conclusion of the Fog City Records Caravan tour (a brief burst of inspired barnstorming that touched down at juke joints across the South).
Malcom Welbourne, aka Papa Mali, is an enigmatic, somewhat mysterious, and overtly friendly character whose lifelong embrace of roots music creates a deep, multi-layered live show. This is a man who was an integral part of the well-regarded reggae band, the Killer Bees, who organizes a gospel jam every Sunday in Austin when he's off the road (in order to "get right" with the Lord), and who plays the guitar with soul, purpose, and taste that this reviewer has rarely encountered.
Papa Mali's band featured Paul "Buddha" Mills on drums, Courtney Audain on bass, and an unknown organ player. Each player had a firm grasp on the genre bayous of music that Welbourne likes to travel (blues, funk, and reggae, predominantly). They were more than willing to follow Welbourne's scorching guitar and richly grumbling voice to thickets of sound that reminded me of Dr. John circa 1972, the Meters during their Rejuvenation period, and the crazy reggae of Eek-A-Mouse.
The setlist for this show was essentially a shopping list of Papa Mali's influences, and it goes something like this:
I'm A Ram (Al Green)
When the Levee Breaks
Le Bon Temps Roule
Junco Partner (Professor Longhair)
Guilded Splinters (Dr. John)
Firewater (Bo Dallis)
Iko Iko
Man of Many Words (Buddy Guy)
A great moment during this show (among many) was at the end of Junco Partner: Welbourne walked to the front of the stage, turned around, and pointed upward in salute to the massive painting of Professor Longhair that sits above the stage at Tipitina's.
The conclusion to Papa Mali's set, which knocked my syntaxes out of socket and therefore prevented any attempts at setlist taking, was a frenzied full-out reggae breakdown that lasted for approximately 15 minutes. I can't tell you the names of the songs that were played, but I can tell you it was intense, scorching, heartfelt music that sealed my respect and appreciation for Papa Mali and the Instagators.
Opening the show on this Friday the 13th was MOFRO. This band showed the promising results that can emerge from pairing a French bass player and Australian keyboardist and sax player with two down-home backwoods Florida singers and guitar players. As for the drummer Bee, well, I don't know where she was from but she certainly kept a mean beat. The actual lineup for Mofro is:
JJ Grey, guitar and vocals
Daryl Hance, guitar
Fabrice Quentin, bass
Nathan Shepherd, sax and keys
Bee, drums
Mofro's set was an exercise in relaxing, laid back grooves and ridiculously soulful crooning and testifying from JJ Grey. When he wasn't singing, Grey was telling involved stories ranging from fishing during childhood to the delicious dinner he had down the street at Frankie and Johnny's.
The double bill of Papa Mali and Mofro was the most enjoyable evening of music I have witnessed since Jazzfest. I encourage you to support these bands and learn more about them.
Billy Thinnes
JamBase New Orleans Correspondent
Go See Live Music!
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