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Tipitina

About Me


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It doesn’t often happen, and that’s putting it mildly. When was the last time a bundle of youthful energy, polished musicianship and originality like Tipitina landed on the mat unannounced? It’s quite disconcerting. ‘Where did this suddenly come from?’ you ask. The prosaic reply is Preston, Lancs, but the real answer is New Orleans and a few other hot spots along the way; from juke joints and dance halls, warm nights and windy streets, good times remembered and a few bad moments best forgotten. In short, to borrow Hoagy Carmichael’s handy list of life-enhancing ingredients, it comes from ‘swing, boogie-woogie and jive’ - not forgetting the blues and even gospel music. Tipitina is (or are) Justin Randall, Debbie Jones and Gary Barber, joined on certain occasions by Andy Jones, John Battrum and Tom Hill. If you know anything at all about New Orleans music and its great practitioners you know that Tipitina is the title of a piece by the late Professor Longhair, and it is from the Prof and his students - Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Dr John et al - that they draw much of their inspiration. With a background as broad as that, a band can range happily through vast tracts of musical landscape. For instance, we find Dream A Little Dream Of Me, a winsome little pop song from 1931, by Gus Kahn, Fabian André and Wilbur Schwandt, side by side with Hit That Jive Jack, an early hit for the King Cole Trio; and Fats Waller’s immortal Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1929) rubbing shoulders with I Wish I Was In New Orleans by Tom Waits, from his 1976 album ‘Small Change’. Originality manifests itself in many ways, one being the ability to bring seemingly incompatible elements together and make something new and unique out of them - in this case Tipitina’s beguiling and distinctive style. It seems to me that New Orleans music is like an underground stream. The everyday world of pop music, jazz and blues carries on oblivious to its presence until, every once in a while, it rises to the surface and insists on being heard. It happened with trad jazz and Fats Domino’s New Orleans rock in the fifties, with Dr John and his voodoo brew in the ‘60s, with the Neville Brothers and the Meters in the ‘70s and ‘80s - and don’t forget Jools Holland on our own doorstep right now. It’s never a good idea to make predictions, especially in print, but I’d say Tipitina could be next.
"I found the album hugely entertaining and I would hope that Tipitina do very well out of it." - Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2
"Vocalist Debbie Jones is as sultry as a night downtown, while Justin Randall's piano boogies like there's no tomorrow." - JD, Sunday Mercury Newspaper
"Debbie Jones, has a rich, soulful and very expressive voice, well suited to the material. The authentic-sounding soloing of Justin Randall shows a mastery of the various New Orleans piano styles and there is also invigorating solo input from the saxist and guitarist." Bob Weir, Jazz Journal
"...the striking voice of Debbie Jones dominates, but special mention must be made too of moments such as Justin Randall’s boogie tour de force on the fast rocking Breaking Up The House." Chris Yates, Jazz Rag Magazine

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/8/2007
Band Website: http://www.bigbearmusic.com/Tipitina/Tipitina.html
Sounds Like:

Record Label: Big Bear Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Radio 2

Tipitina were featured on the Paul Jones show on monday 23rd March. He played a track of the album and plugged this weekends gig!!have a listen www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jonesWe are about 7mins 30 in...
Posted by on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:46:00 GMT

Preston FM

Hi there folks!Tipitina are going to be on Preston FM on Tuesday 3rd March. Playing some tunes from the album plus a little chat! Have a listen from 4.15 pm. Love Tipitina xx
Posted by on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:11:00 GMT

Fab Weekend

 WOW!! Lichfield Festival was great. Excellent bands - fab crowd well organised. Thanks for having us. Great night!! Thanks for all who watched us at The Ignite Brunch @ The Royal Albert Hall. We...
Posted by on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:22:00 GMT

BirminghamJazz festival

The Tipis are in Brum again for the 2008 jazz festival!!! check out www.birminghamjazzfestival.com for more info  
Posted by on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:25:00 GMT

Good Old Brum

Hi There,  Had a great gig at Risa last night!! Thanks to all who came down Love the Tipis x
Posted by on Mon, 19 May 2008 07:38:00 GMT

Our Debut Album Is Out Now!

Hi Guys Our debut album, I WISH I WAS IN NEW ORLEANS, is out now on general sale. We're ever so proud of it and hope you like it too. To obtain a copy drop us a message on MySpace or email the label a...
Posted by on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:32:00 GMT

Our Debut Album Is Out Now!

Hi Guys Our debut album, I WISH I WAS IN NEW ORLEANS, is out now on general sale. We're ever so proud of it and hope you like it too. To obtain a copy drop us a message on MySpace or email the label a...
Posted by on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:32:00 GMT

Album review by Chris Yates of The Jazz Rag, Featured in Issue 99

TIPITINA ____________________________________ I Wish I Was In New Orleans ____________________________________ Big Bear Records, BEAR CD 47 (53:31) Firstly, a progression of hymn-like chords introduc...
Posted by on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:09:00 GMT

Album Review by Paul Jones from BBC Radio 2

The case against eclecticism and versatility is broadly speaking that if you get good at too many things you'll fail in the creation of an individual voice, and so you'll never establish a unique iden...
Posted by on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:06:00 GMT

Dave Gelly of the The Observer Album Review

TIPITINA        &nbs p;  I Wish I Was In New Orleans (Bear CD 47) It doesn't often happen, and that's putting it mildly. When was the last time a bundle of ...
Posted by on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:04:00 GMT