THE HIGH SOCIETY NEW ORLEANS JAZZ BAND, Live at Birdland

Praising The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band, which in its current iteration has been enrapturing audiences at its Thursday night residency at NYC’s legendary Birdland since early 2024, famed jazz historian and New York Post writer Chip Deffaa notes their “appealingly organic feel” and their unique status as “essentially Woody Allen’s band, without Woody Allen.”

Led by Zambian born, Mexico and England raised Grammy winning pianist Conal Fowkes and Australian trumpeter Simon Wettenthall (both longtime members of the filmmaker’s prior band), the new seven-piece band makes its Turtle Bay Records debut with Live at Birdland. Comprised of classic 20’s and 30’s songs associated with New Orleans and Dixieland music, the fun and frolicsome, joyful and exuberant eight song, 50 minute set – culled from two performances in August 2024 - showcases the group’s seamless, explosive ensemble action (punctuated with infectious vocals from several members) and improvisational mastery while capturing their sheer joy, soulful fire and freewheeling spirit of one of their sold out shows.

Highlights include the opening funeral/second line medley “Flee as a Bird”/Oh Didn’t He Ramble,” the whimsical “Here Comes the Hot Tamale Man,” Jelly Roll Morton’s jumpy, jangling “Shreveport Stomp,” the King Oliver associated “High Society” and the obscure Irving Berlin delight “When I Leave the World Behind,” which makes for an amiable closer to the rambunctious set.