The Brightest Smile in Town

In the early ‘80s, Dr. John made a series of unassuming solo piano recordings like this one, quiet documents of one of the great piano stylists of his time. On the surface, the playing is effortless, but closer up, it starts to look strange and idiosyncratic — like his mentor James Booker, he stuffs the normal frameworks of New Orleans with just about as much rhythm as it can handle, loading it with quick and brittle runs, skitters and flourishes (“Didn’t He Ramble / Closer Walk With Thee”). Up close, Dr. John’s renowned feel comes from the details.