NEW ORLEANS – Honoring the influence of jazz in the evolution of funk, Royal Sonesta New Orleans’ Jazz Playhouse will host seven premier entertainers in seven days with its first-ever Funk Week, from Feb. 5 – 11. Performances begin nightly at 8:30 p.m. and are open to the public with no cover charge, though preferred seating is available here.
The performance lineup for NOLA Funk Week presented by The Jazz Playhouse will include:
Sunday, Feb. 5
George Porter Jr. Trio with special guest Khris Royal
With a decades-long career, George Porter Jr. is considered one of the forefathers of funk. As band leader of the Runnin’ Pardners and bassist of the funky METERS, Porter has also collaborated with musicians from Allen Toussaint and Earl King to Paul McCartney and Jimmy Buffett. Porter’s Funk Week performance will include the talent of Khris Royal as a special guest.
Monday, Feb. 6
Little Freddie King
A Ninth Ward staple, Little Freddie King is a veteran singer, songwriter and guitarist. The native Mississippian has called New Orleans home since the 1950s, and King has released multiple albums and sang old-style blues with significant funk influences for crowds throughout the world.
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Abstract featuring Gerald French
Raised in the birthplace of jazz, drummer Gerald French is the bandleader of the esteemed Original Tuxedo Jazz Band. French has traveled the world performing with a variety of big-name artists such as Leroy Jones, Harry Connick, Jr. and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, on top of numerous festivals where he’s taken the stage.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
Tank & The Bangas
Infusing rock, gospel, funk and folk, Tank and The Bangas has captivated the Crescent City since forming in 2011. With its distinctive sound, the young group won OffBeat Magazine’s 2014 Best Emerging Artist title and has opened for acts such as The Revivalists and The Soul Rebels.
Thursday, Feb. 9
Glen David Andrews & His Funky Band
Known as the Tremé Prince, Glen David Andrews grew up immersed in Louisiana’s jazz culture with a family of musicians. The trombone player has headlined everywhere from New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to an international tour in France, and his Redemption album earned the top spot of OffBeat Magazine’s Top 50 Louisiana Album Releases of 2014.
Friday, Feb. 10
Brass-A-Holics
This go-go brass funk band makes waves with its fusion of New Orleans’ and Washington D.C.’s signature sounds. Since 2010, this unique award-winning group has traveled more than 65,000 miles across the world for more than 4,500 performances.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Flow Tribe
No stranger to New Orleans’ well-known Jazz & Heritage and Voodoo Festivals, Flow Tribe has drawn audiences in with its one-of-a-kind mending of brass, Cuban-Caribbean rhythms, R&B, soul, rock and hip hop. Its psychedelic sound is heavily influenced by the Crescent City, as the Tribe members are all native New Orleanians.
“We’re excited to present NOLA Funk Week and celebrate jazz’s influence on funk with world renowned artists,” Royal Sonesta New Orleans General Manager Alfred L. Groos said. “This is an opportunity to experience the evolution of funk in an intimate setting with some of the forefathers, as well as with some of the most cutting edge and upcoming artists of the genre. It is sure to be an unforgettable experience.”
Click here for more information or to reserve a seat at any of the NOLA Funk Week performances