Good vibrations

David Naccari's 'Rouxminations' CD cleverly celebrates New Orleans in song

Start with a roux

That's what you do

When cookin' gumbo and shrimp étouffée, too

You can't miss

With crawfish bisque

If you start it by making a roux

That's all you need to do!

So begins "Start With a Roux," one of 16 songs on "Rouxminations," a clever, innovative CD celebrating the history, spirit, culture and joys of living in New Orleans. It's the handiwork of the talented David "The Nac" Naccari, a New Orleans musician and character, not necessarily in that order.

Naccari's lyric- and music-writing talents come to the fore in "Rouxminations." The lyrics are deep and layered in harmony. You listen and you feel like dancing, and singing along with "Hot Cookin' Baby," "Mardi Gras Doo-Dah" and "Start With a Roux," which honors Leah Chase and tells you how to make a slow roux and a fast roux.

Even his storm-related songs, such as the already popular "Katrinalaya" (a spin-off of the Hank Williams classic "Jambalaya") and "Restore the Coast," make you chuckle, but also get you reflecting.

Or rouxminating, the Louisiana version of musing, pondering, reflecting or chewing over.

But if anything, the upbeat songs and the overall feeling you get after listening make this a totally feel-good album.

"I wanted it to be positive. It's time to get past the hurricane scene," said Naccari, "yet still pay homage to it."

To that end, Naccari -- who teaches "The History and Culture of French Louisiana" to first- through eighth-graders at KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts, in the French Quarter -- pulled together 20 New Orleans musicians to sing, harmonize and play a variety of instruments, including blues harmonica, fiddle, slide guitar, organ, flute, fife and trumpet. The performers include Gina Forsyth, Cindy Scott, David Leonard, Dominick Coronna Jr., Leigh Checkman, Alicia Levy and Van Glynn....