Malcolm Welbourne was given the nickname Papa Mali while touring with Burning Spear and The Killer Bees. He is a solo artist, slide guitarist, singer/songwriter and producer (Omar & The Howlers among others). Here he is with his own New Orleans funk band. This is an impressive first outing. Papa Mali's voice is a little bit like Ed Volker's, the band has a lot of percussion, and the inspiration comes partially from The Radiators and Dr John.

The album opens with Papa Mali's "All Right You Got It". Clifton Chenier's "Bon Ton Roulet", Buddy Guy's "Man of Many Words", and Dr John's "Walk On Guilded Splinters" follow. The remainder of the album is all original except for The Wild Magnolia's "Fire Water", and "If I Ever Get Right" which is co-written by Austin's Sarah Brown and C. Miller. The all star band includes Papa Mali, guitar; Courtney Audain, bass; Claude McCan, keys; Tomas Ramirez, saxophone; the legendary Barry "Frosty" Smith, drums; and percussionists Bevis "Katdaddy" Griffin and Paul "Buddha" Mills. Sarah Brown bass, guests on "If I Ever Get Right". Papa Mali creates a musical gumbo with a new "rue".

The highlight of the album however is Dr John's "Walk On Guilded Splinters". After about a dozen plays I realized this was an "enhanced cd" and I slipped it into my computer. I was treated to a fantastic ten minute black and white video to the tune of "Walk On Guilded Splinters". The imagery displayed in this segment accompanied by the music gave it a whole 'nother life. The photography is by Tom Braneff and the segment and entire cd is produced and edited by Dan Prothero.

Papa Mali www.papamali.com will be appearing in our area when he opens Michael Arnone's Crawfish Festival on Sunday June 4th on the new Delta Music Experience www.deltamusicexperience.com stage. The Crawfish Fest is an annual event in Augusta N.J. which is not to be missed. Check out the festival and the other New Orleans based bands that are appearing there at www.crawfishfest.com

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