When you open a CD and the inside cover reads “This album was recorded over two afternoons, one year apart at Bigtone Records in New Orleans, Louisiana. The songs were recorded live off the floor directly to tape using vintage analogue equipment. The sounds were captured with all the musicians in one room playing together, just how they would have done it back in the day,” well, you know you are in for something special. The CD in question is New Orleans Sessions, by JUNO Award-winning Blue Moon Marquee. The essence of a very good time is delivered on an album that should inspire your next social gathering.

Blue Moon Marquee is spirited blues duo A.W. Cardinal (vox, guitar) and Jasmine Colettte (vox, upright bass), whose energy and panache are matched by the album’s featured players: B.C. Coogan (piano), Danny Abrams (baritone sax), Jon Atkinson (harmonica), Nicholas Solnick (drums), and Brett Gallo (drums).

The use of vintage gear to produces the sound of the album’s 10 songs, a mix of original and early 20th century, proves to be just right. The effect is spectacular. Each note draws the listener in, closer to the music, closer to the stories, closer to the atmosphere of the world of the music, and, ultimately, to why we love good old fashioned jazz. Highly recommended if you wish today’s music lived up to how you’ve always heard it used to be.