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On this album Gerald is re-united with Twist Turner who not only wrote the 12 original numbers
here, he also sat in the producer’s chair. Joining Gerald, who takes lead vocals in Chicago’s Sound
Studios are: guitarists; Herb Walker, Joe Burba and Mike Wydra, keyboards; Roosevelt Purifoy,
Sumito Aryioshi and Brian James, drums; Twist Turner, with Skinny Williams on saxophone and
John “Boom” Brumbach on trumpet.

‘Can’t Nobody Stop Me Now', opens the proceedings with the horns attractively blasting from the
speakers, pouring out a sprightly 80’s groove behind Gerald’s powerful, sweetly enticing vocals,
declaring that he’s leaving his old broken life behind and heading for a brighter future. The mellow
trumpet on the slowburning tear jerking blues of ‘Where Do We Go From Here', pulls at the
heartstrings as Gerald recounts getting caught-in–the-act. The pain is emphasised by an aching,

wailing saxophone. Once again, the mellow horns glide wonderfully under the enticing, reassuring
vocals on ‘Runnin’ Wild', evoking splendid memories of Z.Z. Hill.

‘I Started Over', is a spirited testament to positive change, with the cheering horns, and soaring

keyboards underpinning a new outlook. The melancholy, slowburning piano and guitar driven ‘It’s
Over Now', delivers enjoyable echoes of Bobby “Blue” Bland, while ‘You Can’t Take My Love', is
immersed in emotion courtesy of Gerald’s delicate, vulnerable vocals, a haunting B3 and
sympathetic horns. ‘I Think About You', is classic soul, with smouldering B3 and sweetly soaring
horns underpinning a sensitive vocal from Gerald.

Greatly endorsed!

Brian Harman

Michot’s Melody Makers Cosmic Cajuns From Saturn
Nouveau Electric Records

Michot’s Melody Makers are an electric string band pushing the
boundaries of Cajun traditional music. Under the direction of
fiddler and Lost Bayou Rambler co-founder Louis Michot, the band
mix traditional Cajun music with contemporary composition, with

a foot in the old and a foot in the new.

This album was recorded live at Saturn Bar, New Orleans, LA on
December 9, 2019 (with BBQ by B-Boy Brown, and meat from T-
Jim's in Cottonport, LA) and features eight tracks. The opener ‘Ma

Jolie Petite Fille’ (My Pretty Little Girl), is a dance piece with some pretty frenetic, slap drumming.
‘Jolie Joues Roses’ (Pretty Pink Cheeks) a love song, while ‘Baionne’ (Entertainer) is a fiddle workout
par excellence, replete with outstanding playing, double stopping and wonderful melody lines. ‘T'as
Vole Mon Traîneau’ (You Stole My Sled/Sleigh), is surely a throwback to the original Acadians, who
migrated from Canada to Louisiana and founded the Cajun culture—not many sleighs in Louisiana.

After a nod to the band’s last album with a version of the title track, ‘Blood Moon’, the whole
finishes with a medley/jam ‘Michot's Melody Makers Medley’, which lasts 16 minutes plus:
Fantastique!

Inspired by 1920s recordings by the likes of Blind Uncle Gaspard and Delma Lachney, Louis Michot
and his band bring the music right into the 21st Century. I want to see them!

Ian K. McKenzie