New Orleans Suspects:
Friday, November 14th, 8:00 PM
A Night of of New Orleans R&B and Funk!
The New Orleans Suspects began playing together in 2009 as a pick-up band at the Maple Leaf in New Orleans. Comprised of some of the most seasoned, highly respected players in NOLA, the group called themselves The Unusual Suspects. Their chemistry was undeniable and by the summer of 2011 they decided to tour full time, renaming the band The New Orleans Suspects. In three short years they released two CDs and established themselves as one of New Orleans best supergroups.
"Mean" Willie Green was the drummer for the Neville Brothers for over 30 years. His style has helped shape New Orleans funk. His drumming has graced the tracks of The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon. Reggie Scanlon's career has been defined by his thirty three years of playing bass in the Radiators-the longest running rock act in the history of New Orleans. Scanlon spent much of the 70s in the bands of legends James Booker, Professor Longhair and Earl King. Jake Eckert was the longtime lead guitarist in the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Traveling the world, he has performed everywhere from Palace Square in Russia to the 2009 Grammy Awards ceremony. He received a Grammy Award in 2011 for recording engineer and producing albums for John Mooney, Cedric Burnside and New Orleans Suspects. CR Gruver is a classically-trained pianist who immersed himself in New Orleans piano styles after touring with the national bands such as Outformation and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Adept at James Booker-style piano and the swelling B-3 stylings of Art Neville, Gruver has become a well regarded sideman for Leo Nocentelli of the Meters. Jeff Watkins is an accomplished sax player, engineer and producer. He spent 12 years leading the James Brown Band, including Brown's induction into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. Jeff worked for 6 years with Joss Stone as her producer, engineer and bandleader.
Since 2011, The New Orleans Suspects made a live recording, Caught Live at the Maple Leaf. In October of 2014, their latest CD is entitled Ouroborus. Putting a contemporary twist on the funk, rock and R&B traditions of New Orleans music, this album is like taking a wild ride through the city's musical history in a brand new vehicle.
