The music town of New Orleans is awash in great artists and one of the longtime supporting acts is stepping out from the shadows as Ernie Vincent’s newest solo album Original Dap King, finds the guitarist/singer (with the help of some friends) getting loose over originals and covers alike.
Tracked at Dial Back Sound by Bronson Tew and Matt Patton (who also contribute the drums and bass respectively), Original Dap King allows Vincent to bring along friends Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers) on keys, Taylor Hollingsworth (Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band) on guitar and vocalists Schaefer Llana and AJ Haynes for support.
Variations of blues, funk, and soul, course through all ten of these tracks. Vincent’s blues foundation is delivered on the workman “Seven Sisters”, more slinger than a singer, Vincent works best when the guitar riffs are the focal point. The polished blues on “Jealousy” has great wah-wah effects and a Robert Cray cool, the revved-up crunchy “Blues Filler” ends too quickly while the raucous roadhouse blues of “Early Times” closes the album on a triumphant note.
Vincent and team turn up the disco-laced funk on many of the tracks as sweet sax from Hank West lead the propulsive “Guilty As Funk” and Vincent’s guitar solos burn up the bumping “Possession”. The group goes over the top, full Isaac Hayes, for the cinematic funk of “Mr. Good Daddy” complete with string arraignments and layers of backing vocals. Those strings and the sax turn up again for the group’s oddest effort, a cover of Neurosis’s “Black” which turns the angsty metal original into slow, sweet soul.
Vincent and crew do their best work with the deep Bootsy Collins-like bass during the syrupy, playful opener “Body Shop”. The smiling from the drop “Midnight Rendezvous” features smooth soul horns and the cleanest guitar work from Vincent, who seems to truly dig the infectious groove. Previously his 1972 single with the Top Notes “Dap Walk” was Ernie Vincent’s funky high-water mark, but the efforts on Original Dap King soar alongside that classic jam. Having supported everyone from Ernie K-Doe to Solomon Burke when they played New Orleans, Vincent now steps successfully into the spotlight.
