I first met Liese Dettmer in a hotel elevator in Vancouver, B.C. We were both attending a Folk Alliance conference that was taking place during Carnival time.   After commenting on the Mardi Gras beads Liese was wearing, we discovered we were both from New Orleans and knew a lot of the same people and places.

After Hurricane Katrina, Liese spent a lot of time in Tennessee and touring around the country, picking up gigs here and there and making the best of it.

Her latest CD, entitled “Hope So…” is her best work to date. With the help of guitarist/producer Chris Polacek and a slew of great local funk rock, jazz, and folk musicians, Liese has put together a great recording.

Even if I had not known that Liese was Christian, I could see that Liese covertly pours her Christian faith into her songs in a way that is fortifying but not preachy. Perhaps “hopeful” is the best word, making the title of the CD very appropriate. One thing about Liese is that she surprises you - she looks very inconspicuous at first glance, but the woman can rock!

I am very glad that Liese included new arrangements of “Kick ‘Em to the Curb” and “Jazz Fest.” The latter is one of the best anthems about the Fest that I have heard. The opening tune, “One Side to the Other” has a nice reggae rhythm, and the rest of the CD is a folky-lyric mix of classic rock- and NOLA-influenced jams. 

This CD can be purchased online at Louisiana Music Factory