Search - Big Al Carson :: Take Your Drunken Ass Home

Brilliant up-tempo modern blues from a true performer

Edward Batista | San Francisco, CA USA | 09/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Big Al Carson leads a band called the Blues Masters, who play six nights a week at the Funky Pirate on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I've been to N.O. about half a dozen time in the last two years, and I catch at least one of Big Al's sets every trip.Big Al is a powerful singer with an expansive voice that ranges from an Aaron Neville falsetto to a Barry White growl. He has a great rapport with the crowd, alternately using humor and his commanding presence to keep everyone engaged, entertained and in line. The Blues Masters are a tight trio who provide a solid backdrop for Big Al, who's clearly the focal point of the band. I'm not sure if the musicians on the CD are the same ones who usually play at the Funky Pirate, but the live band exhibits an easy camaraderie that makes it seem like they've all been playing a long time (or maybe that just comes from doing 20+ sets a week.)"Take Your Drunken Ass Home" does a perfect job of capturing the feel of a Big Al show, with a good blend of up-tempo modern blues, a few soulful ballads, and a handful of lewd and very funny novelties mixed in. It's well-produced, with a good mix that keeps the vocals up front without losing track of the music. If you've ever seen Big Al Carson, you have to own this record. And if you haven't seen Big Al Carson, you better get to New Orleans ASAP."