Drunken Master

Everyone has thought it on occasion, when a drunk spoils the party for everyone else, and now Big Al Carson has written a song that expresses what everyone was thinking. "Take Your Drunken Ass Home" was written by Carson extemporaneously one night, as the blues musician and his band were repeatedly interrupted during their set by an inebriated patron at a New Orleans bar. Since then, the song has become a favorite during the Carnival season, culminating in its biggest day, Mardi Gras, with plenty of people needing this kind of advice. Music veteran Carson has chosen the humorous tune as the title cut of his 2002 CD release.

Sometimes it seems like every jazz ensemble with a hint of funk, or a desire to re-create a soulful New Orleans sound, has to be an octet or a nonet at the very least. After all, a full-scale horn section is a must, isn't it? Three Fall buck the trend—the clue is in the name. On Realize! the German trio of saxophonist Lutz Streun, trombonist Til Schneider and drummer Sebastian Winne creates a full, rich and groove-laden sound without recourse to bass, piano or trumpet section. There's plenty of recourse to electronic effects, though, which does much to fatten out the trio's acoustic instrumentation.