Even die-hard fans of New Orleans rhythm and blues would be hard pressed to tell you much about Ernie Vincent. Nevertheless, the guitarist is one of the city’s more talented and active musicians. His band The Top Notes have been a fixture in New Orleans since the early 1970s, working their own shows as well as backing many other artists.
Vincent’s life journey began in 1945 in Thibodeaux, Lousiana. “A lot of people don’t know much about me because I haven’t had a record out in a while,” said Vincent. “I’ve always been the kind of guy who likes to work in the background supporting others rather than drawing attention to myself.” However, with the upcoming release of his latest effort, Original Dap King, on January 13th via Cornelius Chapel Records, the tides are set to change.
Tracked in April of 2021 at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi with Bronson Tew and Matt Patton at the helm, and drums and bass, respectively. Vincent was able to stretch out his guitar prowess and rip every solo on the album with Jimbo Mathus on keys and leading the band along with his Squirrel Nut Zippers’ horns and strings, Taylor Hollingsworth on some extra guitar, and Schaefer Llana with AJ Haynes on the backing vocals. What’s left is a fiery offering of funky blues with equal measures of soul and rock’n’roll interspersed for a delectable bayou audible feast. Funkier than last weeks gumbo with a psych blues side order.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the standout tune “Midnight Rendezvous,” which is brimming with brassy soul and the kind of smooth cool that has become Vincent’s signature. The marching beat gives the song a sturdy backbone as the horns add a sense of funkified vibrancy, and Vincent ties it all together with his easygoing vocals and slyly proficient guitar playing. Like the album title suggests, Vincent and his backing band definitely conjure up that throwback soul spirit of the Dap Kings while putting their own original stamp on things and giving us a tune meant as a soundtrack for good times.
Vincent describes the inspiration behind the song:
“‘Midnight Rendezvous’ is about the guys going out and getting together with their ladies. They have a drink or two and then they head to take care of business. You may get to the club a little early at 9:30 or 10 o’clock… maybe eat a little bit, drink a drink, and then things start to kick in at midnight. Like the song says, ‘When the clock strikes one, we’re gonna have a lot of fun. When the clock strikes two, we all know what to do. When the clock strikes three, it’s just you and me. And when the clock strikes four, you know it’s time to go’… ha!
I originally wrote this song to give to a friend of mine, Tommy Singleton here in New Orleans who’s been singing with me down through the years. I had the studio all set up for him, but because he was working so much he couldn’t make it and we never got around to recording it together.
After I signed with Cornelius (Chapel Records) I went into the studio to record this new album with some really great musicians. I got there on a Monday evening and they had seven new songs already written for me that I knew nothing about before I got there. I had brought in three of my own songs and ‘Midnight Rendezvous’ was one one of these that we regenerated with these musicians.
‘Midnight Rendezvous’ is almost a Tyrone Davis style of swing thing. ‘I’m waiting to see your face,’ and all that kind of stuff. Well, the changes went into the song and the same groove, and the dancing groove, and it’s good! I was surprised when we finished it and what the band did with it…. such a great rhythm section. Everything we did together was experimental, but is was all good.”
LISTEN:
Ernie Vincent’s new album Original Dap King comes out on vinyl, CD and digital/streaming platforms on January 13, 2023 via Cornelius Chapel Records. Pre-order
