Over the past few years, saxophonist Khris Royal has emerged as one of the most exciting up-and-coming musicians on the New Orleans music scene. He’s one of George Porter, Jr.’s Runnin’ Pardners, and his own funk-fusion outfit, Dark Matter, has been busy establishing itself as one of the city’s most incendiary live acts. On the [...]
Tag Archives: funk
MarchFourth Marching Band, Magnificent Beast (Marchfourth Music)
February 1, 2012 – 12:48 am
If you’ve seen MarchFourth Marching Band live, perhaps at Voodoo or last year’s Halloween show at House of Blues, you know the incredible energy this band is capable of bringing. With an entourage of more than 30 horn players, percussionists, acrobats and stilt-walkers M4 has proven itself to be one of the premiere touring acts. [...]
Obituary: Larry Hamilton (1951-2011)
February 1, 2012 – 12:10 am
Larry Hamilton, a singer/songwriter who might be best known for a self-titled 1997 NYNO CD produced by Allen Toussaint, died December 28, 2011. Born in Galveston, Texas, March 23, 1951, he moved to New Orleans as a youth. At the age of seven, he began taking piano lessons with Ray Charles as his major influence. [...]
Papa Grows Funk, Needle in the Groove (Funky Krewe Records)
December 1, 2011 – 12:59 am
Back in the 20th Century when John Gros was enrolled in the George Porter, Jr. Academy of Funk as a member of the Runnin’ Pardners, he also held down a bread and butter gig playing for tourists at Tropical Isle. Gros never complained about playing the hits on Bourbon Street, though. He studied the crowds [...]
e.company, On (Independent)
December 1, 2011 – 12:50 am
On marks the first release of New Orleans’ own e.company, a quintet of young, skilled instrumentalists crafting intricate jazz and funk-steeped songs. The band cut its’ teeth on Frenchmen, playing first as a more traditional trio until evolving into the lineup that produced the beautifully packaged On. The point of entry for most listeners will [...]
YouTube du Jour: Nasimiyu
November 17, 2011 – 12:05 am
Tonight, Tipitina’s hosts a NOLA Brewing-sponsored show with Nasimiyu & the Many Moons, a young, raw funk and soul band who released a promising EP, It Ain’t Pretty But It’s Beautiful, earlier in the year. The concert is free, and starts with United Seas and Gris Gris at 9 p.m. In this video, shot at [...]
George Porter, Jr. and his Runnin’ Pardners, Can’t Beat the Funk! (Independent)
November 1, 2011 – 12:59 am
The Meters are in the DNA of all New Orleans funk, but it’s only natural that with time it becomes less obvious. The bands that they influenced have influenced bands, and they’ve influenced bands, and so on. A biblical string of “begats” stand between many modern funk bands and the band that inspired them, whether [...]
Voodoo Experience Highlight: Bobby Rush
November 1, 2011 – 12:18 am
Consider the booty jam. A booty jam holds no allegiance to style, propriety or length. A booty jam will go wherever it must to find that booty or lament its getting away. Old school, new school, rough, smooth—the booty jam will prevail. Bobby Rush is one of the world’s foremost practitioners of the form. Born [...]
Nicholas Payton’s Bitches Album Sees Commercial Release
October 20, 2011 – 4:09 pm
After Nicholas Payton‘s infectious, groove-heavy album Bitches was rejected by Concord Records in 2010, Payton leaked it online for free download in November that year. In early 2011 it appeared again, and began making waves not only with Payton’s longtime jazz fans, but with funk lovers enamored with its synth- and drum machine-laden textures that [...]
Star Slinger Remixes Trombone Shorty’s “Do To Me”: Free Download
October 11, 2011 – 1:43 pm
Just in time for Trombone Shorty’s free performance tomorrow at the Harvest the Music concert series comes a remix of his song “Do To Me” by British producer and DJ Star Slinger for free download. The song, which the band recently turned into its first true music video, is the first single from Shorty’s new [...]
