Gris-gris - Voodoo New Orleans Gumbo from Dr John

An Introduction To Gris-gris By Dr John

Although I love a lot of his albums, “Gris-gris” by Dr John (Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. <November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019>) is one of the most brilliantly disconcerting albums in my extensive collection.

It vaguely reminds me of the feeling I get when I listen to my Ethiopiques collections, very listenable but also disturbing. I don't know if it’s the songs or the production or a combination. There are a lot of Ethiopiques on YouTube so you can check them out to see what I mean here.

I just noticed that the title of the album is Gris-gris , and here are the descriptions of what that is supposed to be.

To put a curse on someone. Frequently used in jest, not in reference to actual black magic. “Grandma got so mad when I ate her pie, she put a gris gris on me.”

Gris-gris , also spelled grigri, and sometimes also "gregory" or "gerregery" is a Voodoo amulet originating in Africa which is believed to protect the wearer from evil or bring luck, and in some West African countries is used as a method of birth control. It consists of a small cloth bag, usually inscribed with verses from an African ancestor containing a ritual number of small objects, worn on the person.

So that’s where this album starts. It only clocks in at 33 minutes and consists of seven songs, or rather two songs, four voodoo chants, and a combination of the two for the finale almost eight minutes of threat “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” also covered by Paul Weller, Cher, Marsha Hunt and many more.

I recently bought some earbud headphones and was shocked at the sound that I got while listening to this album on them. Though the buds were in my ears the sound seems to be positioned maybe two feet from my ears. I really need to check “Aqua” by Edgar Froese which used “Artificial Head” technology to see if that works properly with these headphones.

So here is the album song by song, I would recommend you get yourself a copy and there is a Rhino box set of five of his Atco albums that are all worth listening to.

Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya

Here is where Dr John introduces himself to a backdrop of Voodoo sound, a snake oil salesman who can cure your ills and solve your problems with his potions and charms. It’s almost a song but is weirdly creepy but you are drawn in and you cannot escape.

Danse Kalinda Ba Doom

Some heavy steel drum / bucket percussion drives this chant and I am not sure how much involvement Dr John has in this but again music and chants do surface , in an almost hypnotic style which really does envelope the whole album.

Mama Roux

The first real song on the album (and Dr John is responsible for a hell of lot of great songs) and though this is quite relaxed , the Voodoo is not very far away and you are soon taken away into

Danse Fambeaux

More chants taking you back under the Voodoo spell with smoke and darkness

On the streets of dark areas of New Orleans.

Croker Courtbullion

Although there is a tune behind this you know the dark magic is not very far away, lots of chanting and maybe Baron Samedi is waiting to steal your soul.

Jump Sturdy

The second song on the album but full of dark Voodoo magic imagery but easy to listen to even though the words are slightly disturbing preparing you for the magnum opus …

I Walk on Guilded Splinters

I’m sure the title should be “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” but everywhere spells it with a “u”. This song is vicious and relentless and goes on for nearly eight minutes (that is a quarter of the album) . Starting with an understated bass line and Dr John starts with his self presentation

Some people think they jive me

But I know they must be crazy

Don't see dey misfortune

Guess, they just too lazy

J'suis the Grand Zombie

My yellow belt of choison

Ain't afraid of no tom cat

Fill my brains with poison

Walk through the fire

Fly through the smoke

See my enemy

At the end of dey rope

Walk on pins and needles

See what they can do

Walk on gilded splinters

With the king of the Zulu

Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon

Walk on gilded splinters

Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon

Walk on gilded splinters

And it goes on hypnotically with an amazing riff and chants taking you to the final conclusion.

Conclusion

I play this album a lot and it is an amazing experience, you may be surprised if you drop into it , fifty five or so years after it’s initial release , still as spookily beguiling as ever.