The Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s latest CD, What’s Going On, their version of the music of Marvin Gaye, is a powerful response to the destruction of New Orleans. It may not be quite as profound as Terence Blanchard’s A Tale of God’s Will, which truly transforms the storm into something eloquent, beautiful and heartbreaking. It is that transformation which is most important — we all know what happened. Blanchard turns it into art.

The Dirty Dozen’s response is also strong. It has their typical funky vibe, with an atypical touch of anger. You can see New Orleans culture taking on a new tone in this CD.

This city has every reason to turn into The Big Angry, although it does not seem to be in the nature of this culture. Perhaps that is what we are lacking.

The first song on the CD, "What’s Going On,� comes with the poignant words of Chuck D. More on him next week.

This week is the Dirty Dozen version of "Mercy Mercy Me." Check it out behind the cut.