After inhabiting his hoodoo-murmuring Night Tripper persona for four albums, Dr. John returned to his roots for a celebratory Mardi Gras revue of timeless New Orleans hits from the '50s. Featuring the great Lee Allen on tenor sax, Gumbo unleashes high-stepping reinterpretations of rollicking Crescent City standards like "Iko Iko" and "Little Liza Jane." He demonstrates his substantial piano mettle on Professor Longhair's "Tipitina" and delivers an authoritative "Junko Partner."