This supergroup started life as a pick-up band at the Maple Leaf, one of the oldest live music venues in New Orleans. Led by drummer “Mean” Willie Green, the band’s ranks include saxophonist Jeff Watkins (James Brown), guitarist Jake Eckert (Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dr. John) and piano/organist CR Gruver (Leo Nocentelli). After two years honing their sound, they left the Maple Leaf and started touring. Kaleidoscoped is the prolific band’s fourth album and their second of all original material—another exploration of the myriad sounds of the city that gave birth to jazz and R&B. “Big Chief” Juan Pardo and “Big Ike” Kinchen from the Golden Comanche contribute vocals to “Round Up Dem Suspects,” a Mardi Gras Indian romp featuring some mellow sax work by Watkins. Gruver opens “Cocaine Jane” with a calliope-like keyboard hook. A humorous lyric that details Jane’s excesses gives over to Eckert’s psychedelic guitar work and a stomping coda propelled by sharp, crackling sax fills from Watkins. Green’s frenetic, syncopated backbeat drives “You Got the Fire,” a blend of Cajun swing, crunchy funk and gritty R&B. The track sizzles with a great exchange of solos between Watkins on yakety sax and Gruver on his whistling Hammond B3, broken up by Green’s dynamic use of unexpected stops and starts. Scanlan’s bass, Green’s kick drum and Gruver’s sprightly piano introduce “Neighborhood Strut,” a second-line celebration that namechecks some of the city’s most lively street corners.