Here It Comes – Zulu’s Warm-Up to Mardi Gras
1st February 2016 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
Until 1993, the Monday before Mardi Gras was a day to relax after a weekend of parades and maybe pick up those last minute costume accessories. Fishnet stockings might spruce up the attire or perhaps a pink wig could throw off people to one’s identity. Anything mysterious and glittery might be needed to make an outfit magical. Oh, and make that potato salad and put on the red beans.
Like many inspired ideas, the Zulu Lundi Gras Festival, raving this year on February 8, came about from a simple conversation between Zulu member George Rainey and Audubon Institute’s Karyn Noles-Bewley. One day during one of Audubon’s events at Woldenberg Park the two chatted as they stood by the river.
“I asked her,” Rainey once said, ‘What would happen if (King) Zulu would have his arrival here at the riverfront?’ She said it was an excellent idea and to send me a letter and we’ll see what we can do about it.” The result, as they say, is history.
It’s a real credit to the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure club’s King and Queen, characters and members that they exhibit the stamina to, contrary to the usual lyrics, party all day and get up and party all day. The ever-popular Zulu parade, after all, hits the streets at the early hour of 8 pm on Mardi Gras Day.
This year’s festival, its 23rd annual event, presents a musical mix of some long-standing acts and fresh new faces. The Pin Stripe Brass Band has often provided second line accompaniment to the likes of Zulu’s Mr. Big Stuff, who was named after vocalist Jean Knight’s hit song. Also rollicking around are the Big Shot with his signature cigar and cane and the Witch Doctor, a person with voodoo tendencies who declares good weather for Mardi Gras. Other characters that dance, smile and carry on by the riverside festival at Woldenberg Park include the dignified “heads of state” – the Mayor, Governor and the Ambassador.
Another regular at the Zulu Fest is the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band. Performing at 4 p.m. at the prestigious Zulu Stage, located just upriver from the Aquarium of the Americas, the Rebirth will be onstage to welcome the arrival of King Zulu, Jay H. Banks and his lovely Queen Artelia E. Banks. The Rebirth is the right band for this most-anticipated moment as it is both funky and sophisticated much like the Zulus themselves.
Vocalist Ed Perkins, who is recognized as a jazz and blues artist, has also had many a good time at the event. He knows just what the festival-goers crave – lots of Mardi Gras music like the Earl King penned “Big Chief” and rhythmic tunes that inspire second lining and line dancing.
The Dopsie brothers, accordionist and vocalist Dwayne Dopsie (Dwayne Rubin) and rubboard man and vocalist Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. (David Rubin), will go head-to-head on opposite stages to close out the activities. Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers hit at 5:15 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Stage (the riverfront Pavilion) while Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Twisters, the band once led by their father Rockin’ Dopsie (Alton Rubin), perform at 5:30 p.m. following the Zulu royalties’ arrival. Zulu goes zydeco!
Michael “Soulman” Baptiste has ripped it up by the river on Lundi Gras before but this time out he’s got a brand new bag. The vocalist will be heading his band the Mystics for a look back to The Days of Motown joined by the Ladies of Soul that include singers Sharon Martin, Rechell Cook and Naydja Cojoe. It gets down at 12:30 p.m. following a 10 a.m. set by DJ Jubilee.
Other new faces on the Zulu Lundi Gras scene include Tonya Boyd-Cannon not only gets to celebrate the holiday but also the release of her new album Music Is Life. The Mississippi-born, New Orleans-raised vocalist, who ranked in the Top 20 in NBC’s popular vocal competition show, “The Voice,” brings a blend of gospel, contemporary rhythm and blues and pop with a touch of sophistication and a lot of passion to her program. Her show, at 3:45 p.m. with The Crieux, offers a good opportunity to catch up with this up-and-comer.
As the name suggests, Big Frank & Lil Frank, who make their Lundi Gras debut, are a father and son. That one, Frank Williams, comes from a long tradition in gospel music and the other, Frank Wricks, came up as a rapper makes them an unlikely pair. However, since 2010, they’ve been making it work, finding common ground in their love of and enthusiasm for music. Expect a lot of rhythm and blues delivered in their own, unique way at their 2:30 pm set on the Golden Nugget Stage.
Tambourines Ring at the Ellis Marsalis Center
On Tuesday, February 2, 2016, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music gets into the spirit of the Carnival season as it celebrates the New Orleans Black Indian culture by presenting the renowned Big Chief Little Charles Taylor. As a resident of the Musicians Village, Taylor, who boasts one of the great voices in the Indian Nation, won’t have far to travel for the gig – he lives just across the street from the Center, located at 1901 Bartholomew Street. Other residents will accompany the chief including guitarist Adam Crochet and bassist Thomas McDonald. The seemingly omnipresent Spyboy Ricky Gettridge and Demond Melacon will be shaking tambourines with Aaron Lambert on drums and Tom Worrell on piano. Showtime is 6:30-7:30 p.m. Admission is $3.
This article originally published in the February 1, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
