Sax man brings Hub a shot of Bourbon St.

By Larry Katz
The Boston Herald

A typical Friday night at the Black Horse Tavern in the basement of Durgin Park in Quincy Market: A few people are eating, a lot more are drinking, and everyone seems reasonably tickled by the live music. It's doubtful anyone in the chatty crowd came just to listen, but that doesn't detract from the band's visible pleasure in the music.

Joe Bargar and the Soul Providers are playing a funky mix of classic r & b and blues with a subtlety and panache that is anything but typical of your usual cover band. If a hard-core New Orleans music fan happened to be in house, he could give you one reason these guys are special.

The handsome guy onstage blowing tenor sax is Amadee Castenell, a Crescent City horn star who's played with the Neville Brothers, Lee Dorsey and Dr. John, and on many of the recordings produced by the legendary Allen Toussaint in the past 30 years.

More recently, Castenell was the featured sax soloist on ``Deacon John's Jump Blues,'' the sensational all-star CD and DVD tribute to undersung New Orleans guitar great Deacon John Moore.

All of which begs the question: What is New Orleans' first-call saxman doing playing small-fry gigs with singer and pianist Bargar in local bars and clubs?

``For some reason, I'm more relaxed up here,'' Castenell says, sitting in a booth next to Bargar in the Black Horse. ``I lived in New Orleans for 42 years. I worked with Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, everybody. You name 'em, I worked with 'em.''

``What he's trying to say is that he can't hold a job,'' Bargar cracks.

``I also played 10 years with Chocolate Milk,'' Castenell picks up once he stops laughing. ``We were signed to RCA, had several hit records. We traveled around the world with Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang, all these big acts. So I had a pretty wild youth. But then I made the big loop and found myself back on Bourbon Street. And I was bored. Playing on Bourbon Street is a boring job.

``Then I met this woman from Massachusetts who was down in New Orleans on vacation. We got to be friends. A year later I came up to Massachusetts and loved it. I didn't see one flying roach! Loved the climate, too. It's so humid in New Orleans that you don't age. You can't get wrinkled 'cause it's too wet. Ha! But that heat and humidity wear on me. So now I've been married 10 years and I live in Wakefield.''

Does he miss New Orleans?

``I miss the food,'' he says. ``I miss the music. But I got Joe Bargar here. He takes me back to New Orleans every night, so I don't miss it so bad.''

Raised in Providence and now living in Quincy, Bargar is a prime example of the skilled musical journeyman. He's a good enough keyboardist that during the 10 years he lived in New York he got hired to play on Diana Ross's 1982 album ``Silk Electric.'' Since returning to Massachusetts he's paid the bills by playing weddings and the like with the band Soul Kitchen.

Three years ago he decided to put together ``something more personal'' so he could perform more of the music he loves.

``Let's face it, you can't play a tune like `Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home' at a wedding,'' Bargar says.

The Soul Providers' lineup boasts such standout area veterans as drummer Kenny Hadley and guitarist Mike Williams. But how did Bargar manage to snag an Amadee Castanell for his combo?

``I was down in New Orleans,'' Bargar says, ``and I met this really nice barmaid in a club. She said, `Oh, my daddy lives in Boston. You should call him.' Her daddy was Amadee. When I got back home I had a gig and I called him.''

``And the gig was fun,'' Castenell says. ``Because Joe plays so much New Orleans-flavored music, he knew he was gonna get me hooked. Plus he works with good musicians. Good repertoire with good guys, yeah, that'll hook you.''

In June, Bargar and the Soul Providers self-released their first CD, ``Two Sides,'' available at Newbury Comics and through such Internet sites as cdbaby.com. Eschewing all trendiness, Bargar and company serve up their own takes on such r & b chestnuts as Louis Jordan's ``Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)?'' which is successfully transformed into a plaintive ballad.

Bald, bearded and 50, the practical-minded Bargar doesn't fantasize about pop stardom. He's pleased enough to be able to support his family playing the music he digs with some exceptional musicians. And that, to the great good fortune of New England's music lovers, is good enough for his esteemed sax man, too.

``I'm doing what I love and I get to be with friends every time I go to work,'' Castanell says. ``You can't ask for more than that.''

Joe Bargar and the Soul Providers play Friday at Ryles, 212 Hampshire St., Cambridge. Tickets are $10. Call 617-876-9330. Also appearing Saturday at Bob the Chef's, 604 Columbus Ave., 617-536-6204; and Sunday at the Grog, 13 Middle St., Newburyport, 978-465-8008.

( E-mail: lkatz@bostonherald.com )

Copyright 2003 The Boston Herald