As Michael J. West noted here nearly a month ago, the Library of Congress’s Larry Appelbaum has been presenting jazz and jazz-related films on Wednesdays for free throughout the month of April in the sixty seat Mary Pickford Theater (3rd floor of the Library’s James Madison building).  This is a quick reminder that tonight, Wednesday April 22, the Library will be showing the 2006 documentary “New Orlean Music in Exile,” with director Robert Mugge on hand to introduce the 113 minute film that includes blues, soul, brass band, jazz, and rock musicians.

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Saadiq/Legend at DAR Constitution Hall; Dr. John and the Lower 911 at Blues Alley

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Raphael Saadiq and Dr. John are both on tour at present, peddling different brands of regressively delightful music to packed, loyal audiences. The Doctor (Mac Rebennack, to get technical) and Saadiq (né Wiggins) wear their influences on their sleeves and dress in full-on vintage: Rebennack in voodoo regalia, Saadiq in a chickadee-yellow suit and oversize horn-rims.

The distinction, of course, is that the Saadiq’s throwback pose is provisional; the Doctor’s is dynastic.

Headliner John Legend has been filling houses for Saadiq during the pair’s national tour that closed two days ago. That’s fine, if it means more people listening to Saadiq—but mainly it means sitting through most of Evolver after the livelier performer (with the better band) has already left the stage. Legend struts and takes his cheese seriously; Saadiq dances and seems to acknowledge that the salvation/procreation dyad of contemporary R&B is about as synthetic as a modern soulman who channels Curtis Mayfield.

Read More “Last Week: Raphael Saadiq, John Legend, and Dr. John” »