Gris-Gris – DR. JOHN**

Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya/Danse Kalinda Ba Doom/Mama Roux/Danse Fambeaux/Croker Courtbullion/Jump Sturdy I Walk On Gilded Splinters

Gris-Gris was the debut album from the New Orleans jazz and R & B singer Dr John, known as The Night Tripper. He was famed for his exotic stage shows in which he dabbled in voodoo ceremonies, wearing outrageous costumes and headgear.

“A weird psychedelic album, which unfortunately has little content beyond the first layer of novelty. That or I simply don’t enjoy weird music all that much. He has a smooth voice, and the backing vocals and percussion on this one are pretty great.”

“All hushed intonations and bubbling swamp-funk, listening feels like eavesdropping on some bayou ritual. Musically it may be a little limited, but there's no doubting the incredible atmosphere.”

“This is such a unique sound that you simply can't help but rate it highly. There simply was nothing else like it at the time, or for that matter since. This is everything that makes New Orleans intriguing, the voodoo, the jazz, the R & B, the gumbo, the ya ya, and the Gris Gris, all boiled together as only the Doctor could do it.”

“Everything is swathed in a vibe of unshakable cool. Vocals and sounds wave through as in a swampy mist and the whole effect is extremely organic, extremely immersive, and unlike anything I've ever before heard.”

“Deep into the Mississippi, ya can smell the voodoo in the air and your ears are pricked for the sound of the alligators. The music oozes cool, swollen rhythms that set the scene for a real ‘trip’ of an album.”

“Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya begins things off with a lazy crawl. You can almost feel the heat coming from your speakers, as it has a dark summery pulse that brings you right down to the swamp. No question that Gris-Gris is worth the price of admission for the title track and Splinters alone, but the rest of it is a bumpy ride with too much chant singing and gloomy atmosphere.”

“A strange little album, some kind of a tribal, spooky weirdness vibe to it, like it was recorded around the fire deep inside the jungle of Dr. John's mind.”