Dr. John responded to “Katrina” within three months of the devastation, releasing the 26-minute “Sippiana Hericane” on Nov. 22, 2005 to benefit the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, the Jazz Foundation of America and the Voice of the Wetlands. That EP included a four song suite, a cover of Charles’ “Clean Water” and a new version of “Sweet Home New Orleans,” which first appeared on 1998’s “Anutha Zone."
Rebennack, whose last album was a tribute to Johnny Mercer, has penned paeans to his hometown and its culture in the past, most recently the 2001 album “Creole Moon,” which now seems like a quaint and romanticized notion. He has never been a particularly political performer, which makes the new album a significant leap.
He addresses the greed that infiltrated the city due to its offshore oil, the scarcity and expense of housing and the distrust of politicians. The song titles alone make clear his anger -- “Time For A Change,” “Land Grab,” “Say Whut?” – and his hope for the future, “Keep On Goin’,” “My People Need a Second Line,” “Mother Earth.”
Rebennack seems to believe its unlikely he will ever perform the album in its entirety live. Its purpose is to inspire. “Maybe some people will come around and do the same thing.”