When John Boutté commits to a song, he tailors it like a suit from Savile Row, breaking down the lyrics then building them back up again to say exactly what he means. If a Paul Simon song conjures the image of early Americans sailing to the New World on the Mayflower ship, Boutté will sing the same song and mention early Americans who sailed on the slave ship Amistad. If Dave Bartholemew writes that the grass looks greener somewhere else, Boutté will sing that the grass is greener right here at home.
These are the kinds of nips and tucks that can make a song sound like only Boutté can sing it. But Boutté tells Music Inside Out that some songs simply can't be changed. They're just that good. The same can be said of him.
Music Playlist
Classified Spotify
James Booker
If I Had My Life to Live Over Spotify
John Boutté
See You On the Other Side MOG
John Boutté
No No (The River) MOG
John Boutté
The Grass is Greener MOG
John Boutté
All Around the World MOG
Little Milton
All Around the World MOG
James Booker
All Around the World MOG
John Boutte
The Eternal Now Spotify | MOG
John Boutté
That's My Desire Spotify | MOG
John Boutté
Unchained Melody
Little Jimmy Scott
My Life Spotify
Iris Dement
My Life Spotify | MOG
John Boutté
Dark Water Spotify | MOG
Galactic featuring John Boutté
The War is All Over MOG
John Boutté
Easy Going Evening (My Mama's Call) Spotify
Stevie Wonder
Tremé Spotify | MOG
John Boutté
Classified Spotify
James Booker
A Thousandfold MOG
John Boutté
And a little lagniappe... Hallelujah
John Boutté with OperaCréole
2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival