Self-released

This Big Easy trio opens their third album together as they would a show at a local New Orleans venue. While the album sounds like any regurgitation of one of these live jams at times, each player wrote multiple songs showcasing his individual styles and abilities. Joe Krown’s Hammond B3 leads much of the huge-sounding melodies, while Walter “Wolfman” Washington slides through his characteristically pillowy, plucked rhythms on his guitar. Russell Batiste Jr. lends heavy-handed fills and beats that move from funky to bluesy to jazzy in songs like the title
track and the finisher, “Just Us.” Washington’s love-croaking vocals breathe an additional element into songs, but Soul Understanding mostly banks on cohesive playing and individual talent.