Dr. John and The Nitetrippers celebrated New Orleans’ jazz patriarch, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, with a sold-out musical tribute at D.C.’s The Hamilton on March 1st.
Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) paid homage to fellow Crescent City luminary, Armstrong, on his latest release Ske-Dat-De-Da: The Spirit Of Satch (Proper/Concord). The album is a collection of Armstrong’s music reimagined through Dr. John’s unique bluesy piano arrangements and Voodoo panache. The album offers heavy-hitting vocal accompaniment by Bonnie Raitt, Shemeka Copeland, Anthony Hamilton and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
As houselights dim to highlight Dr. John’s piano adorned with Mardi Gras-inspired banner and a skull atop, The Nitetrippers welcome the maestro of New Orleans R&B with opening regalia. The ensemble began with an upbeat, jazzy adaptation of Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World.” The band, led by esteemed trombonist Sarah Morrow, boasts a robust brass section. Trumpeter, Nicholas Payton summoned Satchmo’s spirit with stellar solos on, “Mack The Knife,” and, “Memories of You.”
Locally acclaimed songstress Julia Nixon shyly joined Dr. John to perform the bawdy “Sweet Hunk O’ Trash,” famously recorded by Billie Holiday and Armstrong in 1949 on Decca Records. The sold out audience cheered as the duo playfully taunted one another with lyrics, “You’re trifling lazy. Ain’t worth a cigarette ash… You’re just my good for nothin’ My sweet hunk o’ trash.”
Nixon’s commanding voice, the crown jewel of show, employs hints of gospel and classical techniques best showcased in her cover of “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen.” After which, Dr. John exclaimed, “She just chirped that sucker. I feel a better spirit forming now!” in his distinctive soulful growl. The two rolled into, “I’ve Got The World On a String,” interpreted with slow, jazzy New Orleans flair.
Closing the show, Dr. John stepped away from the tribute album to perform a hauntingly woeful adaptation of, “When The Saints Go Marching In,” to the tune of “St. James Infirmary,” the procession march heard during New Orleans jazz funerals. Morrow’s exceptional trombone solo enhanced the slow, mournful dirge. To close out the evening, Dr. John dipped into his catalog performing the apt, “Such A Night.” The energized crowd sang along, “If I don’t do it, nobody else will,” and gave a standing ovation as New Orleans’ ambassador of song exited the stage.
Armstrong performed in Washington, D.C. throughout his extensive career. In 1971, he performed at the inauguration of The National Press Club’s incoming President, Vernon Louviere. As souvenirs, 300 vinyl copies were made for attendees. The album called, Satchmo at The National Press Club: Red Beans & Rice-ly Yours, turned out to be the last recording of Armstrong playing trumpet as his failing health made playing the instrument very difficult.
Dr. John’s tribute to Satchmo celebrates Armstrong’s indelible influence on American music while cementing his own enduring capacity to bring New Orleans’ distinct melting-pot culture and raucous spirit to music fans for generations to come.
-Katie Handlon