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KERMIT RUFFINS & THE BARBECUE SWINGERS - Bogalusa Strut [SWING THIS!/NYNO
        Records]
        Latest (and perhaps best) from New Orleanian trumpeter/singer/
        bandleader, with elements of traditional and modern jazz, swing
        and his brass band roots.
SONNY LANDRETH - C'est Chaud [SOUTH OF I-1O/Zoo Entertainment]
        One of the best slide guitarists anywhere, a "native stepson" of
        Lafayette, La.  He put on a *smokin'* set at Jazzfest, and is
        long overdue for a new record.

LA BOTTINE SOURIANTE - Margot Fringue [XIEME/Les Disques Mille Pattes]
        Out of all the great acts at Jazzfest this year, these guys were
        perhaps the standouts.  They started their set with maybe 30-40
        people in front of the stage, and within 10 minutes it was packed.
        Quebecois traditional music + jazzy contemporary arrangements =
        "Instant Happy Music"!
BEAUSOLEIL - Chanson Pour Tommy [CAJUNIZATION/Rhino]
        Latest solid effort from Michael Doucet and the boys; a sweet tune
        here, dedicated to the late Tommy Comeaux.
LA BANDE FEUFOLLET - La Danse de Feufollet [LA BANDE FEUFOLLET/Swallow]
        A new band, whose debut CD was produced by Steve Riley.  Traditional
        and new songs composed by band memebers, solid arrangements, really
        good playing ... and there isn't a single band member over 14! These
        kids aren't a cutesy novelty act -- they speak, think and write
        in French, and they can *play*!  They're amazing, and it's people
        like this who are the future of Cajun music.  ("Feufollet" is Cajun
        French for "will o' the wisp")

TARA NEVINS - Chilly Winds [MULE TO RIDE/Sugar Hill]
        Tara's in the band Donna the Buffalo but is also an old-time musician;
        here she does a wonderful album of old-time and traditional music
        with lots of guests like Mike Seeger, Jim Miller, Dirk Powell,
        Ralph Stanley and more.
DIRK POWELL, TIM O'BRIEN and JOHN HERRMANN - The Wayfaring Stranger [SONGS
        FROM THE MOUNTAIN/Happy Trails]
        "The Sly and Robbie of Old-Time Music" (saith Frank Hoppe, heheh)
        do an album of stupendous, mostly traditional songs and tunes that
        were referred to either directly or indirectly in Charles Frazier's
        wonderful novel, _Cold Mountain_.  It's a a veritable soundtrack
        to the book, and one of my favorite old-time CDs in many a moon.
        Heck, everything these guys touch turns to gold, as far as I'm
        concerned ...
DOC AND RICHARD WATSON - Gypsy Davey [THIRD GENERATION BLUES/Sugar Hill]
        Doc joins grandson Richard (Merle's boy) for a solid album of
        ballads, blues and gospel tunes.  He just keeps goin' and goin' ...
        at this rate Doc'll be jamming with his fourth generation before
        too much longer.
SELDOM SCENE - City of New Orleans [APPALACHIAN STOMP 2: MORE BLUEGRASS
        CLASSICS/Rhino]
        A bluegrass version of one of my favorite songs, from Rhino's latest
        in what I hope will be a longer series of fine bluegrass compilations.

LOS LOBOS - Angel Dance [JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM EAST L.A./Slash]
        A little more Jazzfest redux -- these guys did a fine set.  I don't
        need much excuse to listen to Los Lobos.
THE IGUANAS - El Orangutan [NUEVO BOOGALOO/Margaritaville]
        Same here.  One of my favorite bands, sultry latin songs, rock 'n
        roll and Tex-Mex trad, filtered through a New Orleans groove.
STRETCH - El Mitote [KANW: THE BEST OF NEW MEXICO MUSIC, VOL.2/AltaVista]
        A local New Mexico band, from a compilation produced by the excellent
        Albuquerque station KANW 89.1 FM, whose music format is almost
        entirely "New Mexico music", Spanish-language music made by local
        artists.

   ---===***  LIVE PERFORMANCE and INTERVIEW!  Cliff Eberhardt  ***===---

        Land of the Free
                from BORDERS (Red House)
        The Devil In Me
                from 12 SONGS ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL (Red House)
        Glory of Love
                cover of a neat old song from the 20s

CLIFF EBERHARDT - The Long Goodbye [BORDERS/Red House]
CLIFF EBERHARDT - The Wrong Side of the Line [BORDERS/Red House]
        Album versions of the last two songs; excellent singer/songwriter's
        latest.
LEIGH "LIL' QUEENIE" HARRIS - Like a Ghost [HOUSE OF SECRETS/10 Birds]
        Latest from beloved local New Orleans singer, formerly of herself
        and The Percolators. Features John Magnie, Paul Clement, Jimmy
        Robinson, Amasa Miller and others.
LENNY McDANIEL - Different Worlds [TIRED ANGELS/Cafe au Lait Music]
        Second most recent from New Orleanian singer/songwriter/guitarist/
        pianist ... the new one's on its way!

SAVOY-DOUCET CAJUN BAND - La Valse de Marie [TWO STEP D'AMEDE/Arhoolie]
        A sweet waltz from the repertoire of Aldus Roger to finish off ...