Music is in Davell Crawford’s blood. The grandson of the great James
“Sugar Boy” Crawford, Davell has been an active member of the New
Orleans music scene since single digits.
Crawford was raised in Baptist and Catholic churches, playing organ,
piano, and directing and singing in choirs. Since his early years in the
church, gospel has remained the driving force of Crawford’s music, but
he is not one to shy away from detours into R&B, blues, soul, or
funk.
Now Crawford, affectionately known as “The Piano Prince of New Orleans”, is set to release his first album in thirteen years. My Gift to You
is, from start to finish, a tribute to Crawford’s birthplace. The album
features big names such as Dr. John, Big Freedia, Bobbi Humphrey,
Donald Harrison Jr., and Steve Riley & Walter “Wolfman” Washington.
My Gift to You will be released June 11 via Basin Street
Records, but you can stream the album in its entirety below. Also be
sure to check out this exclusive video of Davell Crawford performing
Junco Partner in studio.
Joe Krown Trio
November 15
Terra Blues
Joe
Krown (Hammond B-3), Walter Wolfman Washington (guitar & vocals) &
Russell Batiste (drums & background vocals) started playing together
in March 2007. The trio has been performing every Sunday at a local New
Orleans nightclub, the Maple Leaf Bar. The combination of the soulful
vocals of Walter with the big sound of the Hammond B-3 (which Joe also
plays all of the bass parts on the B-3) and the masterful drumming skills
of Russell Batiste Jr. has developed it's own unique sound. The trio recorded
and released a live CD, Live
at the Maple Leaf (JK1003) in the fall of 2008. Live at the
Maple Leaf captures the magic of these great musicians. Live
at the Maple won a 2009 Offbeat
Award for Best R&B/Funk CD. The trio also won a 2009 Big Easy Award
in the "Best Rhythm & Blues Band" category. In the fall
of 2010, the Trio released Triple
Threat (JK1004), the follow up to Live at the Maple Leaf
and their first studio CD. In November 2010 the Trio was invited to be
part of 15 city U.S. tour called "New
Orleans Nights". The Trio performed a feature set and then backed
up Nicholas Payton
and Allen Toussaint.
"A
killer collaboration between three of New Orleans greatest players!"--Jan
Ramsey, offBEAT
Magazine.
Russell Batiste
Jr.
As a member of one of N’awlins legendary musical families, Russell
Batiste Jr. knows his way around a sound stage. He’s played multiple
instruments, and has been at the drum kit since the age of four. Even
before that, Russell recalls watching his daddy, David Batiste (of the
city’s seminal funk band David Batiste and the Gladiators), jam
with an endless array of the city’s most talented musicians. That
band hosted a virtual “Who’s Who” of ’60s musicians.
One of Russell’s earliest memories is sitting on Jackie Wilson’s
knee listening to him sing “Lonely Teardrops”!
Russell joined the Funky Meters in 1989. Russell has recorded with
Allan Toussaint, Robbie Robertson, Harry Connick, Jr.; performed on
the last two Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians' CD's and two unlicensed
CD's of The Funky Meters featuring the JB Horns, recorded live in Switzerland.
Russell has played with a wide variety of performers including Mike
Gordon (Phish), Eric Krasno (Soulive), Champion Jack DuPree and Maceo
Parker. In 2001 Russell joined the legendary trio Vidal Blue
with Page McConnell (Phish) and Oteil Burbridge (Allman Bros). Vida
Blue toured for almost 5 years and released 2 CDs. An industrious
artist and creator, the busy Batiste also manages to put time into his
own projects, too, like Orkestra from da Hood, who released
their debut The Clinic a few years back and Russell Batiste and
Friends.
Walter
“Wolfman” Washington
Walter “Wolfman” Washington has been an icon on the New
Orleans music scene for decades. His searing guitar work and soulful
vocals have defined the Crescent City’s unique musical hybrid
of R&B, funk and the blues since he formed his first band in the
1970s.
Washington began his career during the fertile heyday of the 1950s
Rhythm and Blues period that spawned dozens of Number 1 songs and made
New Orleans the recording destination of choice for hit makers like
Ray Charles and Little Richard. Born in 1943, Washington was on the
road by his late teens spending over two years backing the great vocalist
Lee Dorsey who was touring in support of his smash hits, “Ride
Your Pony” and “Working in a Coalmine.”
His tenure with Dorsey took him to all of the great music halls in
America including appearances at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Before he went out on his own with his Solar System band, he also did
stints with acclaimed New Orleans songstress Irma Thomas as well as
with the legendary jazzman David Lastie’s Taste of New Orleans
band.
During the 1970s, Washington began a 20-year association with one of
the most important vocalists to hail from Louisiana- the late, great
Johnny Adams. Dubbed “the Tan Canary” for his peerless vocal
stylings, Adams was a mentor of sorts to Washington who developed his
singing style while the two worked together at back-of-town clubs including
a long stint at the famed Dorothy’s Medallion in the Mid City
section of New Orleans.
When Washington formed his first band as a leader he was
often pigeonholed into the blues genre. But by taking his cues from
the likes of Dorsey, Thomas, Adams and the jazzman Lastie, his sound
reflects the full range of music from New Orleans. He certainly can
howl the blues, hence his nickname, but his musical talents have always
defined pure Crescent City soul. In later years, with the second rise
of funk, Washington fully embraced that genre as well.
Joe Krown
http://www.joekrown.com/bio.htm
Listen to Parts1 & 2: HERE
On today’s program, we jump into a car with the one and only Walter Wolfman Washington
for an hour of not just music but also a road trip to a local clothing
store. Tune in as we drive and talk about music, shoes, and his music
mentors. I also stop by Willie Mae’s Scotch House for a taste of food
worthy of a James Beard Award.
Wolfman and I cruised across town and over the Mississippi to Soul
Train Fashions on the West Bank of New Orleans on our quest for the
perfect shoes. The NOATWL web audience gets a glimpse of that store, as
well as a venture into the Soul Train Suit Warehouse back on the east
side of the river in Gentilly. We wanted to give you feel for the
experience so we invited a few members of Sports & Leisure to come along to try out the suits that we see on dapper gentlemen across the city.
