Spend An Hour with John Boutté

Enlarge image

Credit Jason Saul / WWNO

John Boutté at the 2008 Voodoo Music Experience festival.

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

Why  Spotify  |  MOG
John Boutté

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