Tributes by two of New Orleans’ finest to two of New Orleans’ finest
15th December 2014 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
Double Trouble
WWOZ knows how to throw a party in this town. The community radio station, celebrating 34 years on the air, stands as the musical voice of New Orleans here and around the world. So naturally, organizers summoned two of this city’s greatest talents – vocalist/keyboardist Davell Crawford and vocalist/keyboardist Ivan Neville – to perform for its anniversary bash on Friday, December 19. During separate sets, each will pay tribute to two icons of New Orleans music, pianist/vocalist James Booker and the Neville Brothers, respectively. All this takes place at Tipitina’s where, in a small upstairs room, WWOZ got its start. It doesn’t get more New Orleans than that!
“WWOZ has meant a lot to me,” says Crawford, who takes the stage first with his cousin, Joe Dyson on drums and bassist Mark Brooks. “It helped me to build my career from when I was a little bitty boy playing piano and trying to sing to what it is today. I owe the majority of thanks to WWOZ and to those who listen and contribute to the station. They {WWOZ} could have chosen the popular thing, instead they chose the good thing and the right thing. They’ve always put New Orleans music, artists and culture first. Who could ask for anything more?”
With Davell being the grandson of James “Sugar Boy” Crawford of “Jock-A-Mo” fame and Ivan the son of Aaron Neville and the nephew of the Neville Brothers’ Art, Charles and Cyril, the headliners bring a lot of history to Tip’s historic stage as they carry the music forward. Ivan, the leader of his own, hard-hitting group, Dumpstaphunk, will have two of its members, bassists and vocalists Nick Daniels and Tony Hall with Raymond Weber on drums. Neville also promises some special guests including guitarist Tommy Malone, vocalist David Shaw of the Revivalists plus a surprise artist.
DJ Soul Sister will warm up the show spinnin’ her classic funk ’n groove sides.
“It’s going to be so soulfully funky, I can smell it now,” Crawford exclaims with a laugh.
Doors open at 9 p.m. with music starting “soon thereafter.” Tickets are available at the door or at www.wwoz.com
Grammys – What’s Up?
From a New Orleans perspective – and undoubtedly from that of other cities that boast a wealth of music – the Grammy Award nominations usually feel a bit like a head scratcher. Where are all of our musicians who fill our ears with great rhythms and melodies and give the Crescent City its reputation as a great music town. Not to say Louisiana was altogether ignored this year by the National Academy of Recording Artists, the members of which vote in each category. However, the state’s presence seems a little light. Maybe it’s the lack of a funk category, a genre that’s huge locally and nationally, causing the trouble.
With that said, congratulations go out to those Louisianians (and all others) who were nominated. The state was most represented in the Regional Roots category with three Cajun groups – Bonsoir Catin, Jo-El Sonnier and the Magnolia Sisters all getting the nod. It’s a rather eclectic division – for instance, it includes noted Hawaiian singer and composer Kamaka Kukona – and the category in which the Rebirth Brass Band won its first Grammy for its 2011 album, Rebirth of New Orleans. The Rebirth’s 2014 album, Move Your Body, didn’t make the cut though it is every bit as good as the previous disc.
Shreveport, Louisiana native Brian Blade, 44, is a monster drummer who shook up the New Orleans jazz scene on arriving here when he was 18 to attend Loyola University. He has since gotten a ton of attention internationally for his work and recordings with saxophone master Wayne Shorter’s band. Blade has also been making noise as a leader fronting the Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band that is nominated for the album Landmarks in the Best Jazz Ensemble category. It should be noted that bassist Chris Thomas has been a member of the Fellowship since its inception in 1997 and was regularly heard on the New Orleans scene after moving to the city in 1989. We claim the brilliant bassist as an adopted son.
Also on the New Orleans jazz front, Herlin Riley was behind the drums on bassist Rufus Reid’s Grammy-nominated Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project. Not incidentally, the music was inspired by and honors the great artist and sculptress whose work spoke of and embraced the African-American spirit and experience.
“Call me homeboy,” bluesman Bobby Rush, who left his home in Homer, Louisiana some 70 years ago, once requested. “I’m still a Louisiana bayou boy. I’m one of the alligator boys.” After gaining a Grammy nomination last year for his solid Down in Louisiana, Rush is back to go for the trophy again with his album Decisions with the seven-piece funk band Blind Dog Smokin’. Upping the ante is that the disc features pianist/vocalist Dr. John and celebrates the first time these two very funky dudes have recorded together. Hey, it’s a two-for-one if the album wins.
Ledisi is again up for an award in the rhythm and blues division for her performance on the cut “Like This” from 2014’s album The Truth. Though the vocalist moved away from her hometown of New Orleans as a child, she’s been a frequent visitor and considers this city’s music as her roots. Likewise, vocalist Luke James, a graduate of St. Augustine High School, relocated and found success in California. He’s up for the Best Rhythm & Blues Song for “Options” off his 2014 self-titled album.
At just 15-years-old, vocalist and composer Hunter Hayes has been racking up awards and nominations in the field of country music. This year, the Breaux Bridge, Louisiana native, who logically moved to the country music capital of Nashville, has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Country Solo Performance category for “Invisible” from his disc Storyline.
One of the biggest names in country music, Tim McGraw is a native of Delhi, Louisiana though he too left home to seek and eventually attain fame and fortune. He’s up for a Grammy in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the tune “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s” off his 2014 album Sundown Heaven Town.
The Grammy Awards will be aired live on CBS at 7 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, February 8.
This article originally published in the December 15, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
