Naughty Professor Speed Through “Rush Hour”: VIDEO

New Orleans sextet Naughty Professor have a new EP titled Good Things which the band will celebrate at a release party April 15 at The Broadside in NOLA. On Friday, the band will offer up the second single from Good Things, a tune featuring Shaun Martin called “Waltz.”

The first one? That would be “Rush Hour,” a kickass romp enhanced by percussion master Weedie Braimah, already available on all platforms. And now there is a deluxe video to accompany the tune.

Weedie Braimah. 📷: Emily Ferretti (originally for Country Roads Magazine)

The message behind the video:

The members of Naughty Professor are competing in a Rat Race-style chase for a royalties check, as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the streaming royalties system—watch until the end of the video for the painfully-honest punchline.

We would concur. The opening reminds — briefly — of Sugarloaf’s “Green-Eyed Lady” before tenor, baritone, bass, and drums bring the alarm. Jangly trippy guitar follows, with monster bass behind. Then the horns explode — to Naughty Professor perfection. Braimah gets a highlight before horns return.

This is a three-and-a-half-minute adrenaline rush for certain. It has the same punch as “Tank” by Seatbelts (that Cowboy Bebop theme). In fact, somebody ought to grab this for a show theme, because it smokes!

Naughty Professor are: Bill Daniel, guitar; Noah Young, bass; Sam Shahin, drums; Nick Ellman, alto, baritone saxophones; Ian Bowman, tenor saxophone; and John Culbreth, trumpet.