| April 27th, 2004 07:46 AM |
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| Ten Thousand Motels |
Local, global stars to sing city's praises
Film jam to include Richards and Raitt
Music writer
Producers of tonight's "Make It Funky" concert at the Saenger Theatre have finalized the roster of their all-star tribute to the history and influence of New Orleans music.
Art Neville and Allen Toussaint top a list of featured New Orleans performers that includes the Neville Brothers, the funky Meters, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Earl Palmer, Snooks Eaglin, Lloyd Price, the Dixie Cups, Irvin Mayfield, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Kermit Ruffins, Jon Cleary, Henry Butler, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Big Sam's Funky Nation and Troy Andrews.
They'll be joined in various combinations by special guests Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Jonny Lang and a house band led by drummer Steve Jordan.
Michael Murphy Productions is filming "Make It Funky" for a documentary slated for release this fall by Columbia Tri-Star Pictures. The concert will be divided into six sections showcasing New Orleans music and its ingredients.
The show will open with a brass band and second-line showcase featuring Ruffins, the Dirty Dozen, Big Sam's Funky Nation and Andrews. A gospel segment will feature Art and Aaron Neville with surprise guests.
Toussaint, Cleary and Butler will highlight the piano music of Professor Longhair, James Booker and Fats Domino. Toussaint, Raitt, Price and the Dixie Cups will showcase rhythm & blues. A section on the songs that made New Orleans famous will feature Richards, Eaglin and Lang, followed by a segment on funk with the Neville Brothers and funky Meters before a finale jam.
Producers and participants alike hope the finished film, tentatively titled "Southern Nights," generates as much worldwide acclaim for the music of New Orleans as the "Buena Vista Social Club" documentary did for traditional Cuban music.
In the film, concert footage will be augmented by interviews with musicians and such personalities as Cosimo Matassa, whose various New Orleans studios hosted historic recording sessions by Fats Domino and Little Richard.
"New Orleans has always allowed the great ones to be overlooked or left out," said bassist George Porter Jr., who will perform with both the funky Meters and Snooks Eaglin's band. "We've buried so many guys that have so much to do with it, guys like Earl King. If anything comes from this film other than a great night of music, it's that people learn about some of the pioneers."
Filmmaker Michael Murphy said that the musicians "have helped me build a field of dreams. This will wave the flag on the significance of the music in this city and how it has impacted the rest of the world. The concert will make history."
Proceeds from "Make It Funky" benefit the InTUNE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes music and arts education in schools. Tickets are $36-$56, available through Ticketmaster (522-5555 or www.ticketmaster.com) and at the Saenger box office. The concert starts at 8 p.m.
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| April 27th, 2004 09:25 PM |
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| Steel Wheels |
This is just the kind of news I dig. Keith comes out for a little jam session. Get him with some of these other legends and whip it up.
Right on! |
| April 28th, 2004 09:46 PM |
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| gotdablouse |
I'd rather see him get down to business and write his first releasable song in 7 years! |
| April 28th, 2004 11:14 PM |
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| stoneman65 |
Did anyone make it to this show? Lets hear about it?
My friend was there & called at 1am which is when Keef came on. I couldnt make out what song it was thru cell phone.
[Edited by stoneman65] |
| April 28th, 2004 11:48 PM |
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| polksalad69 |
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
They'll be joined in various combinations by special guests Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Jonny Lang and a house band led by drummer Steve Jordan.
ugh |
| April 29th, 2004 01:50 AM |
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| prism |
Keith played "I'm Ready" by Fats Domino and "The Things I Used to Do" by Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones, who died young and was a New Orleans legend). |
| April 29th, 2004 03:55 PM |
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| polksalad69 |
quote:
prism wrote:
Keith played "I'm Ready" by Fats Domino and "The Things I Used to Do" by Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones, who died young and was a New Orleans legend).
Wow, that sounds great. |
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