“They call me Dr. John, the night traveler”. Being both great admirers of the Louisiana pianist/singer, Matthis Pascaud and Hugh Coltman decide to explore the latter’s sixties period with this new album. Night Trippin’, a sulphurous mixture bringing together the folklore of New Orleans, the electric atmosphere of the group and the suave voice of Hugh. Released September 2, 2022.
In that grimy, mystical New Orleans, Dr. John was the Great Zombie, from a time when the streets didn’t stink of concrete, when you didn’t mistake a legendary studio for a laundromat. Matthis Pascaud and Hugh Coltman are the latest victims – after Mick Jagger, the Beastie Boys, Beck and Dan Auerbach – of the raspy-voiced, rubber-tongued wizard, usually flanked by a stripper and a guy who cut the throats of chickens on stage before drinking their blood! There, in a kitchen, around a large pile of records, Matthis and Hugh stopped on Babylon and Gris-Gris, founding acts of the Dr. John legend. Three years after the doctor put away his skulls and his feathered costumes, how do you pick up the torch? The answer is in Night Trippin’. More than a tribute, a procession. Without headphones, in a room full of microphones, Matthis Pascaud and Hugh Coltman invites us to their wild feast. Their groove advances slowly, like an alligator under the pecan trees, the drums collide in a mystical movement streaked by the guitar blades. These are not songs but mirages. In his voodoo-dandy costume, Hugh Coltman goes wild, chants, barks, gloats. Louisiana runs through his veins. In New Orleans, between bites of alligator, the rock singer with a Wiltshire accent had recorded Who’s Happy. “The first time we jammed with Matthis, he smiles, it was crazy!“Night Trippin’ has dog. From a distance, we will say that it is rock, bestial and stripped down. Closer, we will come across the bottleneck of an old bluesman from the South, the opiate dreams of a Jimi Hendrix, the flames of PJ Harvey or The Kills and wide shots à la Ry Cooder. When the last notes of “Guilded Splinters” fade away, we say to ourselves that, up there, Mac must have enjoyed it. Matthis Pascaud, Hugh Coltman and their troupe opened the door ajar. Let them guide you along the bayou, make the gunpowder and the spells speak… Then, you may end up like them: mystified and totally seduced.
British become Parisian by adoption, Hugh Coltman is a true lover of jazz, rock and blues. Former member of The Hoax and Heez Bus, he performs solo from the album Stories from the Safe House (2008), noted for its jazz, blues and soul flavor. It is in a vein between soul with blue eyes and English pop that Hugh Coltman returns to the front of the stage with the album Zero Killed (2012). He signs with Sony Masterworks and continues with an elegant homage to Crooner in Shadows: Songs of Nat King Cole (2015), followed by Who’s Happy (2018) inspired by the big band atmosphere of New Orleans, two albums which have accumulated more than 15 million plays on streaming platforms and more than 20,0000 physical sales. The same year, he won the Victoire du Jazz in the “Vocal Artist” category. Matthis Pascaud is an artist who captivates with his audacious, volcanic and current compositions. His guitar playing brings together his two main influences: rock for its sound dimension and jazz for improvisation. His music, described as “progressive jazz”, breaks stylistic boundaries. Heard alongside many artists including Ellinoa in the Wanderlust Orchestra, Anne Paceo in the Rewind project, saxophonist Sophie Alour and singer Ayo, the guitarist has also distinguished himself through his work as musical director for successful projects. by Marion Rampal or Moonlight Benjamin. He can also be found abroad, such as at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, Centro Culturale Candiani in Italy, Womad Festival in England, or even at La Clef in France with the singer Moonlight Benjamin.
Titles performed at the Grand studio
– Mama Roux (Dr. John) Live RFI see the clip
– Cha Dooky-Doo, excerpt Dr. John (Triumvirate 1973)
– Cha Dooky-Doo, excerpt from the album night trippin
– Such a Night (Dr. John) see RFI video
– Back To Back (Coltman/Pascaud) see RFI video.
Hugh and Matthis Playlist
– It’ll all work out, by Blake Mills (Hugh)
– Spoonful by Howlin’ Wolf (Matthis)
– Mellow Down Easy, by Little Walter (Hugh)
– Zigzan, by Bombino (Matthis).
Line up
– Matthis Pascaud, acoustic guitar
-Hugh Coltman voice, harmonica & acoustic guitar.
Sound: Benoît Letirant & Mathias Taylor.