Rebroadcast from September 3, 2022.
“They call me Dr. John, the night traveler.” Both being 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 this grimy and mystical New Orleans, Dr. John was the Great Zombie, coming from a time when the streets did not stink of concrete, when a legendary studio was not mistaken for a laundromat. Matthis Pascaud and Hugh Coltman are the latest victims – after Mick Jagger, the Beastie Boys, Beck and Dan Auerbach – of the sorcerer with a hoarse voice and elastic tongue, usually flanked by a naked dancer and a guy who slit throats. chickens on stage before drinking their blood! There, in a kitchen, around a large stack of records, Matthis and Hugh stopped at Babylon and Gris-Gris, founding acts of the Dr. John legend. Three years after the doctor put away his skulls and feathered costumes, how can we take up the torch? The answer is in Night Trippin’. More than a tribute, a procession. Without headphones, in a room full of microphones, Mathis Pascaud And Hugh Coltman suits 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 the Wiltshire accent recorded Who’s Happy. “The first time we jammed with Matthis, he smiles, it was crazy!”Night Trippin’ has some dog. From a distance, we would say that it is rock, bestial and stripped down. Closer, we will come across the bottleneck of an old Southern bluesman, the opiate dreams of Jimi Hendrix, the flames of PJ Harvey or The Kills and wide shots like Ry Cooder. When the last notes of “Guilded Splinters” fade away, we say to ourselves that, up there, Mac must have liked it. Matthis Pascaud, Hugh Coltman and their troupe opened the door ajar. Let them guide you along the bayou, make the powder and the spells speak… Then, perhaps you will end up like them: mystified and totally seduced.
British who became 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 blue-eyed soul and English pop that Hugh Coltman returns to the forefront with the album Zero Killed (2012). He signed with Sony Masterworks and followed up with an elegant Crooner tribute 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 compositions that are audacious, volcanic and current. His guitar playing brings together his two main influences: rock for its sonic 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 watch the clip
-Cha Dooky Doo, extract Dr John (Triumvirate 1973)
-Cha Dooky Doo, 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
– Mathis Pascaud, acoustic guitar
-Hugh Coltman, voice, harmonica & acoustic guitar.
Her
Benoît Letirant & Mathias Taylor.
(Replay from July 3, 2022)