Sometime between 1968 and 1972, New Orleans-based session musician Mac Rebennack changed his name to Dr. John, The Nite Tripper. This colorful character created his own whimsical music universe with ingredients from traditional rhythm & blues, funk, Creole roots, psychedelic rock and voodoo rituals. After the albums Gris-Gris, Babylon, Remedies, and The Sun, Moon & Herbs, he appropriately
… said goodbye to the voodoo part and turned to more mainstream music such as funk, jazz and traditional New Orleans music. Nearly forty years later, The Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach contacted him to record another genuine voodoo album together. Today's voodoo, however, is a lot less sunk in the Louisiana swamps than it was then and is also significantly less affected by psychedelics and related stimulants. Somehow that is a missed opportunity, but on the other hand it yields one of the best albums by the doctor. With Locked Down he finally dares to let go of the traditional music in which he has been active in recent decades, to show that you are never old enough to start something new. (AD)more
