Blue Notes by Robin Lynam

For a while in the 1960s, the artist known as Dr John shared a manager, Joe Glaser, with Louis Armstrong.

Dr John, born Mac Rebennack, says he met Armstrong only once during that time, when they were both visiting Glaser's office, and was therefore surprised when he experienced what he believes was a ghostly visitation in a dream from New Orleans' most famous son.

"Louis' spirit came to me and told me to do something. That's how this whole thing started," Rebennack says of his new album, .

"Louis told me, 'Take my music and do it your way'. He gave me a concept of where to roll with it that was spiritually correct. That made me feel very open to try some different things, because I felt that his spirit had okayed this record."

The album is co-produced by Rebennack and long-time associate, trombonist and arranger Sarah Morrow. "I wanted to pull together some of his hits and some of the songs he wasn't as well known for, and make them feel fresh and different," says Rebennack. "Sarah wrote some slammin' charts that kept everything spacious and hip. And everybody played and sang great, and gave it their own spirit."

Rebennack, who as Dr John is perhaps the most famous New Orleans musician alive, sees himself as a guardian of the city's musical tradition with an obligation to carry it forward. He performed tribute concerts for Armstrong at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in March 2012 and the Hollywood Bowl in 2013, and the experience of staging those helped to give the record shape.

A varied cast of guest musicians was assembled, including, naturally enough for an Armstrong tribute, some star trumpet players, mostly also from New Orleans.