One of the shining lights of the New Orleans brass band tradition is Milton Batiste. The trumpet player, who passed away in 2001, could be seen all over the city at various venues wearing multifarious musical hats: in street parades and jazz funerals with the renowned Olympia Brass Band, at Mardi Gras Indian festivities with the Flaming Arrows, and at formal jazz venues, such as Preservation Hall and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It is in his incarnation as formal jazz musician that he appears on this CD with the Rue Conti Jazz Band. Named after a street known for jazz in the French Quarter, the band's personnel includes bandleader Mick Burns on trombone and vocals, George Berry on tenor and alto saxophones and clarinet, Mike Peters on trumpet, Andy Ford on tenor and plectrum banjo and bass drum, Ron Darby on drums, Terry Knight on string bass, Jim Young on brass bass, and Paul Adams on percussion, vocal support, and whistle. Guest musician Milton Batiste contributes his talents on trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals, tambourines, and trumpet mouthpiece. Together, the group puts on an exuberant performance of traditional jazz and brass band favorites, such as Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Jesus Is on the Mainline, and Just a Closer Walk With Thee. Lesser-known but equally enjoyable selections include Telephone to Glory, West Lawn Dirge, and In the State of Blues. The music is in turn soulful and upbeat, as when the band goes out with good-time tune Eh la Bas, which traditionally has ended many an evening of entertainment in the city know as the birthplace of jazz. ~ Rose of Sharon Witmer, Rovi

1		Telephone to Glory
2		West Lawn Dirge
3		New Second Line
4		Just a Closer Walk With Thee
5		In the State of Blues
6		In a Little Spanish Town
7		Jesus on the Mainline
8		Tula Sana
9		Let Me Call You Sweetheart
10		Rebecca
11		No, It Ain't My Fault
12		Eh, La Bas