Jeffrey Dupuis
photo by New Orleans Suspects
In what will be one of the finest shows on the Riverfront for 2013, this Saturday night features the jam of jams, with members from James Brown’s Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Meters Experience, Neville Brothers, and The Radiators - all together as the New Orleans Suspects. Easily a $30 show, this one is free of charge. In the second installment of Riverfront Nights, look for dancing, fun, great music, and a big crowd.
The band combines original songs in the New Orleans style with hits and obscurities from the Allen Toussaint and Dr. John songbooks, as well as performing favorites from Radiators, Nevilles and Dirty Dozen repertoire. Fans of New Orleans ’ music are raving about the band’s live show!
USA Today said this of their performance from NO Jazz Fest 2013:
“On Friday, outstanding early sets came from New Orleans Suspects, a five-piece consisting of former members of some of the city's top rock/funk/R&B bands...proved adept at mixing swampy rock, funk and high-energy R&B into extended jams. It was a sound that could only have bubbled up from this city, and the Suspects put their own spin on the repertoire.”
From the band bio page on www.neworleanssuspects.com -
“Mean” Willie Green has been the drummer for the Neville Brothers band since the 1980s. His unique attack has defined funk drumming for a quarter of a century, yet he is not a one-dimensional player. His taste in music spans the gamut of modern rock styles and he is as comfortable driving the beat as he is holding down the groove.
Reggie Scanlan‘s career has been defined by his thirty-three years playing bass in The Radiators – the longest running rock act in the history of New Orleans – but his resume is far deeper. Scanlan spent much of the 1970’s in the bands of legends such as James Booker and Professor Longhair.
Jake Eckert was the lead guitarist in the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. While living in Los Angeles he played in the band New Soul Underground along with jazz great Larry Carlton. He has performed with some of the biggest names in the business, including Warren Haynes, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Dave Matthews.
CR Gruver is a classically trained pianist who immersed himself in New Orleans piano style after touring with nationally known bands such as The Meters Experience, Outformation, and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Since moving to New Orleans he has become a well-regarded sideman adept at James Booker-style piano and the swelling B-3 stylings of Art Neville.
Jeff Watkins is an accomplished sax player, engineer and producer. He played all over the world leading James Brown’s band for 12 years, including the induction into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. After Brown’s passing, he worked for six years with Joss Stone as her producer, engineer and bandleader before joining The Suspects full-time.
The Stratoblasters open the evening at 7 p.m. and the New Orleans Suspects take the stage at 8 p.m. The stage is located at the bottom of the big stairs right next to the pier on the city waterfront. There is no charge for admission and refreshments are available. Be there or be square.
For local music info, try www.chattanoogaentertainers.com or www.chattanooganightscope.com. They both have great local music info and schedules. For local info on Country music, try Jim Boles’ site www.chattacountry.ning.com.
Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or catch him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davrik2000.
Bob Payne
photo by Jimbo Tawater