New Orleans is also noted for it’s other sound of 20’s and 30’s styled jazz and brass mixed to form the Bourbon Street sound. Vastly different from zydeco/bayou music the sound is still synonymous with the Crescent City. 
    Local artists The Bourbon Street Brass serves up a sample of the style on their new CD. Consisting of Lew Custode (trumpet/vocals), Craig “Hurricane” Hodnett (tuba/bass), Phil Santa-Maria (banjo/guitar) and Phil Sims (trombone), these guys are musicians in every sense of the word. Whether the smooth vocal styling and trumpet solo on the tune “San” or old time standards like”(Won’t You Come Home) Bill Bailey” their playing is impeccable. 
    Check out “Creole Love Song” with its lazy rhythm and muted trumpet, which will have you feeling like a hot mosquito filled Louisiana day. Or perhaps the subtle strumming, reminiscent of Ron Eschete (The Gene Harris Quartet), that Santa Maria provides on “Until The Real Thing Comes Along” will soothe you. Besides the afore mentioned the band tackles “Strolling Through The Park”, “Sunny Side Of The Street” with Santa Maria impressive again this time on banjo. The CD ends with the refreshing sounds of “That’s-A-Plenty”. My favorite was the six plus minute version of “Tin Roof Blues”. It reminded me of one of those B&W gangster movies where the moll sings on stage while the malcontents conspire at the booths.
   The CD was recorded live at Shannon’s Pub on Jan.16th, 2000 for the Queen City Jass Society’s Millennium Party. The disc is available at the bands shows and at Barnes and Nobles on Niagara Falls Blvd. Or contact them at custode@aol.com