Dr. John - Mercernary

Mercernary achieves Dr John's goal of paying tribute to Mercer but also goes some distance to reaffirming his own genius

Album Review by Dave Reid | 16 May 2006
Album title: Mercernary
Artist: Dr. John
Label: Parlophone

Dr John has been wowing the crowds with his "N'Awlins fonk" and boogie-woogie piano playing for years. On his latest release, 'Mercernary', he turns his attention to the songs of fellow southern legend, Johnny Mercer. Dr John takes Mercer's songs, applies his unique sound and makes them his own with consummate ease. The spontaneous and easy sound of the record is a testament to the fact that the songs were recorded mostly in one or two takes in a New Orleans studio a month or so before Katrina struck. Dr John throws in one original composition, I Ain't No Johnny Mercer, to complete the album, and despite it's title, it certainly holds it's own. 'Mercernary' achieves Dr John's goal of paying tribute to Mercer but also goes some distance to reaffirming his own genius. [Dave Reid]

Mercernary is out on May 1.
Dr. John plays The Usher Hall, Edinburgh on June 10.