Mitch Woods has created an album which is a tribute to Fats Domino. He has written 11 of the 12 songs in the style popularized by Fats. For this project he has enlisted the aid of Dave Bartholomew who is credited as co-Producer. Dave Bartholomew was Fats Domino's producer and co-author of most of Fats Domino's hits (including I'm Walkin', I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday, Ain't That A Shame, Walkin' To New Orleans). Mitch has also enlisted the Fats Domino Band; so along for this ride is Jimmy Moliere, guitar; Herb Hardesty, tenor sax; Erving Charles, Jr, bass; and drummer Earl Palmer. Along with Dave Bartholomew original band members Hardesty and Palmer are among those considered architects of Rock' n' Roll as they were part of the house band at the J & M studios that helped crank out hit after hit for Fats, Little Richard and others. In fact the whole band is here including the 5 piece "Blue Monday" horn section with Fred Sheppard, Clarence Johnson III, Reggie Houston, and Dave Bartholomew. Guest artists include Maria Muldaur, Charmaine Neville and John Mooney.

Song highlights are "Big Easy Boogie", my favorite "Thought I Heard Satchmo Say", "Fallin' For You" and "I Left My Baby At The Mardi Gras Cryin'". Mitch also pays tribute to "Fess", Professor Longhair, as he and Maria Muldaur duet on "Mojo Mambo". "Short, Sweet and Tender" is a spin off on Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petit". Two Instrumentals are included "Crescent City Flyer" with its Earl Palmer introduction and "New Gert Town Blues". Tex Stephens vocalizes "The Ballad of Dr. Daddy-O". Mitch also covers Fats Domino's "I'm Ready". The songs jump out at you as only The Fats Domino Band can do. Once at Yankee Stadium on the 4th of July I saw Fats and his Band strut around the bases. They still strut.

If this wasn't enough for the price of admission Mitch Woods includes a DVD, let's call it the making of "Big Easy Boogie". The DVD begins with rare footage on the history of J & M studios with archival photographs of Little Richard, Fats, Smiley Lewis, and Lloyd Price. There is also live footage of the Band playing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2002 with split screen views of Earl Palmer drumming on the left and Mitch on the right. Segue to the rehearsal studio, Dave Bartholomew is directing the band on "Big Easy Boogie" and "Fallin' For You"; Earl Palmer is working out his snare intro to "Crescent City Flyer". This is remarkable footage. Mitch Woods narrates; introduces himself and pays tribute to the masters. Then comes a biography on Earl Palmer; Earl played on countless hits (Etta James/Dance With Me Henry, Ritchie Valens/La Bamba) television themes (The Odd Couple, 77 Sunset Strip) and even movie soundtracks (Cool Hand Luke, The Hot Spot, Pretty Woman) as he became the drummer in the Quincy Jones Orchestra. The interview with Earl that follows is priceless. Next is an interview with Herb Hardesty. Then there is a round table discussion with Herb, Earl and Cosimo Matassa (founder of J & M studios). Finally Mitch joins them.

Mitch Woods was born in Brooklyn where he was classically trained. After moving to San Francisco, he fell in love with boogie, woogie. He formed and has recorded five previous albums as "Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88's". This cd/dvd is self produced and conceived entirely by Mitch. This is the best self produced effort I have ever seen and a fitting tribute to the Fat Man.

Richard Ludmerer
Director, The New York Blues & Jazz Society
ricdale2@yahoo.com