New Orleans musicians plan big concerts in coming months

Fans of the funk, jazz and blues emanating from New Orleans will be happy to note that many of the Crescent City’s best musicians are taking their talents around the United States in the coming months. Even with a busy touring schedule, they are offering plenty of dates in their hometown as well.

Kermit Ruffins, one of the preeminent trumpeters of his time and frequent presence on HBO’s Treme, with travel with the Barbecue Swingers to the Northeast in early December with dates in Washington, D.C. (Dec. 3), Ardmore, Pa. (Dec. 4), Baltimore (Dec. 5), New York (Dec. 6) and Boston (Dec. 7). Rhode Island and Delaware fans will be able to see his talents in February, the same month when he offers a week-long residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York. In fact, his Tuesday gig at the legendary Big Apple venue will take place on Mardi Gras.

For New Orleans residents and tourists, Ruffins is still playing his regular residencies in town, plus he’s planning a 50th birthday bash at the House of Blues in December and a New Year’s Eve party at the Little Gem Saloon. Finally, it has recently been announced that Ruffins will return to Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest in New Jersey in May. Click here for more information.

If his performance at last year’s Mardi Gras Ball on a double bill with Dumpstaphunk at B.B. King’s Bar & Grill is any indication, fans are in for a treat. He’ll bring a traditional New Orleans sound with a jubilant party vibe that always keeps the feet tapping and head bobbing.

Also coming to the Crawfish Fest are Anders Osborne, Stooges Brass Band, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, New Orleans Suspects, Jon Cleary, John Papa Gros Band (Gros was bandleader for Papa Grows Funk), Samantha Fish, C.J. Chenier, George Porter Jr. and The Running Pardners, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Marc Broussard and Rosie Ledet and The Zydeco Playboys, among many others. The three-day festival, featuring camping options and multiple stages, is an annual mainstay for New Jersey fans to get a taste of New Orleans music and food. Daily passes and weekend passes are now on sale.

NOLAFunk.com and CEG Presents have a host of shows in the coming months. Included on their calendar: a Mardi Gras New York show with Bonerama and special guests, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at Terminal 5 in New York and Rebirth Brass Band at the Highline Ballroom. Click here for more information.

The Monterey Jazz Fest will make a pitstop with Terence Blanchard, Ravi Coltrane and Gerald Clayton Trio at the Blue Note in New York. Their weeklong residency will take place in early January. Click here for more information.

Dumpstaphunk will offer a pre-Thanksgiving concert at B.B. King’s Bar & Grill in midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information. Galactic will return to New Orleans for a New Year’s party at Tipitina’s, and they’ll be a few blocks away from many of the great musicians at other venues partying into the morning hours.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com