PAPATAMUS REDUX

OUTSIDE IN MUSIC (RELEASED APRIL 4, 2025)

For close to 20 years, drummer Leon Anderson has been a regular at New Orleans’ Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Most of that time he was serving as a house drummer for New Orleans’ luminaries such as Ellis Marsalis and Victor Goines. With the release of Live at Snug Harbor, Anderson makes his debut recording as a leader, and it is well worth the wait. Anderson hand-picked eight of his own compositions to showcase the exuberant playing of his quintet of top players from the South — fellow New Orleanian John Michael Bradford on trumpet, former Florida State University Ricardo Pascal on tenor, Honduras born and New Orleans transplant Oscar Rossignoli on piano and Memphis native Rodney Jordan on bass. The crowd and Anderson’s drumming spur the soloists to deliver a hard-driving and enjoyable session. Pascal bursts out of the hardbop opener “PJ’s” with a strong and forceful solo. Jordan gets an opportunity to show his dexterity on a well-played melodic solo on the jaunty and joyful “Lil’ Miss Ariel.” Lil’ Froggy Blues” showcases the band’s listening and “preaching” skills as they each solo and trade fours on this up-tempo blues. Working with the rhythm section, Bradford delivers a tender rendition of the ballad “Understanding.” Anderson takes a longer and explosive solo on the burner “88 to 1621.” The group delivers a solid hard bop sound with modern sensibilities and a touch of New Orleans’ collective improvisation, particularly on the end of “PJ’s” and the funky “Essence of the Soldier.” The overall sound may be reminiscent of classic Bluenote dates, but Anderson’s original tunes, his powerful but not overpowering drumming, and the forceful solos of the quartet give this hardbop session a sense of urgency. Abraham Lincoln is often credited with saying “good things come to those who wait.” New Orlean jazz fans have been waiting for 20 years for Leon Anderson to record an album of his own compositions and with his own band, and it is indeed a good thing!

BOTTOM LINE: Listening to Leon Anderson’s Live at Snug Harbor reminds me of live recordings from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The drumming is propulsive. The
solos are explosive. The tunes are impressive. The audience is effusive. It all adds up to an exciting debut release for a drummer who has been driving bands with his rhythmic power and flexibility for more than 20 years.