New Music for the Carnival Season from Irma Thomas and Sarah Quintana

The Irma Thomas float in the Krewe of Freret parade, by Alex Rawls

Another preview of Thomas’ upcoming collaboration with Galactic, and a New Orleans R&B favorite from Quintana’s next album, due out in March.

On Saturday during the first weekend of Uptown Mardi Gras parades, the Krewe of Freret debuted an Irma Thomas float. The day before, Thomas dropped the second single for her upcoming collaboration with Galactic, Audience with the Queen.

“Where I Belong” is a hard R&B burner tailored by the band to Thomas’ voice and persona. “I got up this morning / I guess I can sing for another day,” she sings, and the fierce resilience in her voice fueled by the power in the groove give the song an optimistic swagger.

The song and album continues a collaboration that started with “Heart of Steel” on 2010’s Ya-Ka-May, and they debuted some of the songs from it live at Tipitina’s last November to finish an all-star tribute to Thomas. Audience with the Queen is due out April 11, and Thomas will perform with Galactic at Jazz Fest on April 26.

Sarah Quintana performed at the tribute to Thomas, and finished her set to see Thomas sitting in a throne at the side of the stage watching her.

Quintana also has a new album coming out soon. Baby Don’t, will be released on March 28, and on Valentine’s Day she released “Be My Love” with Emily Mikesell, half of the duo that recorded Give Way. Now, with Mardi Gras upon us, she has dropped her Cajun French version of Shirley and Lee’s “Let the Good Times Roll.” The spry, borderline swamp pop take features Leyla McCalla joining Quintana on vocals and a fiddle solo from Lost Bayou Ramblers’ Louis Michot.

Sarah Quintana will also play the first weekend of Jazz Fest.