Brian Barberot - Drums
Brian has played with Pete Fountain and others. His family owns and operates the Jefferson Orleans music club, which he is helping restore.
See.. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/creviews/c0900_07.htm
Alonzo Bowens - Saxophone-Woodwinds
Alonzo has performed with Dr. John, Wynton and Ellis Marsallis, Don Vappie and the Creole Jazz Serenaders and many others. He also has recorded with: Dr. John, Delfayo Marsallis Harry Connick Jr., Paul Simon and Leroy Jones.
Occupation: Professional Musician, Instrumental Music Instructor Major Instrument: Saxophone-Woodwinds
Education:
B.A.-Music Education, Instrumental, all levels. University-Southern University-New Orleans.
M.M.-Jazz Studies University-University of New Orleans
Teaching Experience:(19 yrs.)
2002-2005-MartinLuther King Elementary, New Orleans, La. 2003-Band received "Superior Sweepstakes" honors, L.M.E.A.large ensemble festival.
Other Professional Experience: -Served as Adjudicator throughout the state of Louisiana, (L.M.E.A.)1998-2005. -Served as guest clinian and Honor Band Conductor throughout the state of Louisiana, (L.M.E.A.) 1998-2005.
Leroy Jones - Trumpet
Born in New Orleans on February 20th, 1958, Leroy began studying the trumpet at age 10, in school band. By the time he was 13 years old, he was already playing gigs and leading Danny Barker's young Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band. The Fairview Band performed at church events, Social & Pleasure Club events, Funerals, and Second Line Parades all over the city of New Orleans. The band has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institute Festival of Culture & Folklore. The Fairview band later evolved into the Hurricane Brass Band, which became the seed of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Leroy Jones was a significant figure amongst the new breed of aspiring young musicians participating in Barker's renaissance of New Orleans brass bands.
After a very brief stint in the Jazz Studies Program at Loyola University's Conservatory of Music, Jones joined the musicians union and went on to pursue his career as a professional musician. He has played with nearly all the famous jazz bands in town, and has performed at festivals and clubs throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.
The past decade Jones has been a member of the Harry Connick, Jr. Orchestra, performed on numerous recordings with various artists, leads one of the Preservation Hall Jazz Bands and has two critically acclaimed solo releases, "Mo' Cream From The Crop" and "Props for Pops" on the Sony/Columbia label. Jones continues to travel and record the world over. Leroy Jones Quintet
The Leroy Jones Quintet was formed during the 1980s. But the band's first real international exposure came when it was the opening act for Harry Connick, Jr.'s "She" tour. The Quintet has toured the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. After releasing two critically acclaimed recordings on the Columbia label, the band toured on it's own, performing at festivals and club dates throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and has appeared on NBC's "Tonight Show". The quintet has also made numerous appearances at the Louisiana Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Craig Klien - Trombone
New Orleans-born Craig "Sparky" Klein received his first trombone at the age of six from his musician uncle, Gerry Dallmann. His formal musical training began in grade school, under the guidance of Papa Jac Assunto, founder of the Dukes of Dixieland. After college graduation, his professional musical career began in 1979 when he started playing with a traditional New Orleans brass band, meeting and playing with some of the New Orleans greats, such as Kid Sheik Colla, Father Al Lewis, Danny Barker, Chester Zardis, Frog Joseph, and many more.
He expanded his musical experience when he joined the Storyville Stompers Brass Band. The Stompers is still one of the most active jazz bands in New Orleans, playing second-line parades, parties, funerals, and riverboats, plus engagements in Europe and Japan.
Craig's extensive experience includes work with bands such as the Olympia Brass Band, the O'Jays, George Porter Jr., the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, the Leroy Jones Quintet, Dave Bartholomew, Wardell Quezergue, and Harry Connick Jr. Craig auditioned for Connick's big band in 1990 by playing over the phone and continues to perform with the ensemble currently, travelling extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Craig's recordings with the Connick band include multiple CDs, sound tracks, and singles. The group has appeared in feature length videos and television specials for Disney, PBS, and CBS, and made many guest appearances on television in the United States and Europe.
In addition to recording with the Connick band, Craig has recorded with the Neville Brothers, Leroy Jones, the Nightcrawlers, Lillian Boutte, Dr. John, R&B artists Chuck Carbo and Johnny Adams, rockers Tori Amos, Bruce Hornsby, the all-star Cuban band Cubanismo, and New Orleans recording sensations the Yockamo Allstars. Craig can be heard on over 30 different recordings, and also performs with Dave Bartholomew, legendary producer of Fats Domino and many other performing and reordings stars.
Craig's diverse experience has made him a top-call trombonist in New Orleans, capable of many musical styles and configurations, from trios to large orchestras.
Joe Krown - Keyboards
Joe Krown is a resident and is based out of the city of New Orleans. He is a New Orleans styled piano and Hammond B-3 player. He has been nominated twice and won a New Orleans Big Easy Award in the Blues category in April 2001. His blues trio, Sansone, Krown & Fohl won a 2004 Big Easy Award. Krown has been highlighted in a feature article in the September 2000 and April 2005 OffBEAT Magazine. Krown's third compact disc, Buckle Up, was picked #4 CD, "Best of 2000CDs" in the Times Picayune, and "Best CDs of 2000" in OffBeat magazine. Krown was also selected "Best Keyboardist, Editor's Choice" at CitySearch.com for New Orleans. Krown's fourth CD, Funkyard was picked #4 CD in Gambit Magazine and #15 in the Times Picayune "Best CD's of 2002" and "Critic's Choice Best of 2002" in Offbeat Magazine. Krown's band, the Joe Krown Organ Combo was the front page feature "Fest Focus" article for the Times Picayune 2003 Jazz Festival Focus series. Krown's latest CD, Livin' Large clocked in at #11 in overall sales for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2005.
Krown has held the keyboard chair with the Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Band since 1992 and is featured on the chart-topping The Man, Gate Swings, American Music, Texas Style and Back to Bogalusa albums. Krown has traveled to all 50 states, over 35 countries and 6 continents as the keyboard player in Gatemouth's band. The band, Gate¹s Express won an Offbeat 2004 Best Band in the Blues Category.
From September 1996 to June 2001, he held the Traditional Piano Night slot at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, which was once occupied by Professor Longhair and James Booker. Krown followed that strong tradition with his debut solo release Just the Piano...Just the Blues (1998) and the follow-up CD, New Orleans Piano Rolls (2003). Krown has been a headline performer at WWOZ's Piano Night during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival every year since 1997. As of Labor Day 2001, Krown and the Traditional Piano Night moved to Le Bon Temps Roule in New Orleans. In November 2003, Krown made his European debut as a solo piano performer playing a 5 night club tour in Germany.
His band, the Joe Krown Organ Combo (New Orleans, LA) was formed in 1999. The Joe Krown Organ Combo made its European debut in November 2001 at the Ingolstadt Jazztage in Ingolstadt Germany and makes regular appearances at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Ottawa Blues Fest. The Joe Krown Organ Combo has appeared at such noted nightclubs as the Boom Boom Room in San Fransisco, CA and Tobacco Road in NYC. The Joe Krown Organ Combo performs every week at one of the many New Orleans nightclubs, including the Maple Leaf Bar, House of Blues, Tipitina's, Le Bon Temps Roule, dba, and the Funky Butt. The Joe Krown Organ Combo has 4 CD releases. Down & Dirty (1999), Buckle Up (2000) and Funkyard (2002) were all released on the New Orleans label STRdigital. Krown¹s newest release, the Joe Krown Organ Combo¹s Livin¹ Large, released in February 2005, is Krown¹s first independent release with Krown as producer.
In June 2000, Krown started playing around New Orleans with Jumpin' Johnny Sansone (harmonica, vocals) and John Fohl (acoustic guitar and vocals) in an acoustic delta blues trio featuring Krown on piano. Sansone, Krown & Fohl made their New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival debut in May 2001 and has also performed at "Rivers Festival" in Columbia South Carolina. In April 2004 Sansone, Krown & Fohl released thier first self-titled CD on the Shortstack Records label. Sansone Krown & Fohl won a 2004 Big Easy Award in the blues category.
In April 2004, Krown starting playing in New Orleans Juice. Juice is one of the premier national touring acts from New Orleans legendary funk scene. The band is a 4-piece New Orleans style funk band, that has a very creative original mix of New Orleans funk, blues, second line, rock and rhythm and blues. Krown is featured on their 2005 double live CD, Hey Buddy.
Krown has performed with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Johnny Adams, Marcia Ball, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, New Orleans Juice, Theresa Anderson, C.J. Chenier, Irene Sage, and Marva Wright. Joe has held the keyboard chair for Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown since 1992. As the keyboard player in Gatemouth's band and as an artist, Krown has shared the stage with superstars like Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Kim Wilson, Ike Turner, Jimmy McGriff, Melvin Sparks, George Porter Jr., Buddy Guy, Niles Rodgers, Shemekia Copeland, Lenny Picket (Tower of Power, SNL band), Sonny Landreth, Dr. John, Albert Collins, Joe Sample, Irma Thomas, Kenny Neal, Frankie Ford, and many others. During the 2005 New Orleans Jazz Fest , the Joe Krown Organ Combo hosted an all-star New Orleans Organ Summitt for the city of New Orleans' Mo Fest. Krown and his band were the house band for a 2-hour show that featured Dr. John, Art and Ivan Neville, Robert Walter (Grey Boy All-Stars), Rich Vogel (Galactic) and John Gros (Papa Grows Funk).
Krown has recorded with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson, Jumpin Johnny Sansone, New Orleans Juice, Kid Ramos (guitarist from the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Bobby Charles, Raful Neal, Marva Wright and many other New Orleans artists.
James Andrews - Vocals
Like so many New Orleans performers, James Andrews is part of a musical dynasty. Two of the Big Easy's R&B greats are his relatives: Prince La La and Jessie Hill. An uncle, Prince La La is best remembered for his song "She Put a Hurt On Me." Hill, whose 1960 hit "Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo" is an R&B landmark classic, is Andrews' grandfather. Although Hill did not live to see the release of his grandson's acclaimed 1998 CD, he no doubt is proud from his vantage point on the other side.
That CD, Satchmo of the Ghetto, opens with an homage to Andrews' grandfather. The song "Poops Ain't Gotta Scuffle No More" is a tribute to Hill penned by two of his admirers and students: Allen Touissant and Dr. John. Both musicians used what their mentor taught them to become giants of the R&B genre; both gave something back by helping their friend James Andrews create his first CD, by authoring songs as well as providing lead and backup vocals and instrumentation. Dr. John and Touissant shine with Andrews on such tunes as "Latin Cats," "It's Only a Paper Moon," and "Got Me a New Love Thing." A particular standout is Andrews' "upstairs" rendition of "The Old Rugged Cross."
Andrews wrote many of the songs which appear on the recording, his favorite being "Sweet Emma," in honor of one of the piano-playing stars at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. It was there that the young musician learned much about the traditional jazz idiom that now figures so largely in his own music. His nickname, "Satchmo of the Ghetto," speaks of his love for Louis Armstrong and traditional jazz.
In this reverence, he was joined by other musicians from his Treme neighborhood, including Kermit Ruffins. Both trumpeters gave their talents to the nouveau brass bands that came up in the city after the success of the Dirty Dozen, under the tutelage of the late, great Danny Barker. Andrews played with the Treme Brass Band on its popular Gimme My Money Back CD. He also started his own group, the New Birth Brass Band. Their joyous and eclectic sound can be heard on their 1997 release D-Boy.
The talents of the trumpeter and vocalist are appreciated by a number of his musical colleagues. He appears on Ruffins' 1992 World on a String CD. He has also recorded with Chuck Carbo, Doc Cheatham, Anders Osborne, Royal Fingerbowl, and Charles Neville.
Andrews has absorbed all of his early influences and incorporated them into a sound that is unmistakably his own. You can hear it as he takes the lead in playing music that listeners can dance to, and preserving the fun-loving street sound of the city of his birth.
Cranston Clements - Guitar
Cranston Clements plays with the Earl Turner band at the Harrah's auditorium in New Orleans, but has been in the groove of New Orleans music since he was in grade school ‹ a McMain band member in junior high, he moved on to Fourche for high school. As any New Orleans native knows, playing music in this city is not an easy task, especially during the Carnival season. Cranston himself has marched as a band member in many Mardi Gras parades and says it¹s definitely very tiring. ³I consider myself the band therapist‹the middle child mediator. I'm the one they look to when things need to be smoothed over or feathers get ruffled. Cranston has played with Dr. John, all-star guitar group Twangarama, Boz Scaggs and many others. His personal philosophy is summed up in his favorite quote: “One’s biggest regret should be spent — all the time — on regretting things.”
George French.- Bass
George French's musical profile is usually defined by whoever happens to be hearing him at the time. French is a singing bassist with an extensive background in New Orleans jazz and rhythm and blues. Pick up any of a dozen New Orleans-made hit records of the 1960's and you'll probably hear French.
George French began training and performing at an early age as a vocalist in grammar school. His musical training as a bassist started as a teenager. With no professional instruction; his musical style developed through "on-the-job-training." French's major influences during his musical development were, among others, his father, Albert "Papa" French, Sr., George Davis, and Sam Jones. "Papa" French served as his role model for musical professionalism, business style and commitment to performing. George Davis, his first teacher, ignited his desire to play bass while Sam Jones served as his mentor for musical style.
Over the span of his career, French has had the pleasure of working with many of New Orleans finest musicians, whether on a stage or in the recording studio. On stage, many of the bands include: Willie Tee and Th Souls, Bob French and The Continentals, Red Tyler and The Gentlemen of Jazz. His impressive recording career as earned him studio time with Earl King, Robert Parker, Bob French and The Storyville Jazz Band, The Dukes Of Dixieland, The James Rivers Quartet and Wendell Brunious. His most favorite and notorious recording project, to date, is titled "Celebration of the Voice" and was recorded live for Rounder Records and produced by local producer Scott Billington. "Celebration of the Voice" was a concert series held at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) and a local all-star big band was assembled for the event. The high point of the show, however, were the vocal performances of George French, Germaine Bazzle and, the late Johnny Adams. Each artist performed several tunes and then they all came together to perform "Mood Indigo" and "Exactly Like you."
World traveled, French continues to entertain the masses yearly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and on a regular basis on many of the stages around the great city of New Orleans.
