Take Me to the River – New Orleans LIVE! celebrates the music of the Crescent City, a place where global influences from Cuba, South America, Europe, Canada and America have come together to create a distinct sound that is rich with its heritage, people, language and culture. Four generations of legendary talent take the audience through an auditory journey of the region, from jazz to funk, soul to blues. Here is a little bit about the musicians and music patrons will experience at Take Me to the River – New Orleans LIVE!

For 40 years, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has blended brass band music with jazz, funk and R&B/soul for a unique sound that the band calls “musical gumbo.” Traveling the world with 12 albums and collaborations with a wide range of artists from Modest Mouse to Norah Jones, this band is legendary.

Ivan and Ian Neville stand out among New Orleans’ best as part of one of the funkiest bands in the Crescent City – Dumpstaphunk. With a bloodline like the Neville family, they grew up at jazz festivals and have created a deep, gritty groove that will make audiences get of their seat.

Playing music since the ‘60s, George Porter, Jr., is a world class bass player unlike any other. A storied artist in New Orleans, he has played with Paul McCartney, David Byrne, Patti LaBelle, Tori Amos and many, many more.

Given a lifetime honor of the National Heritage Fellowship in 2016, there is no one more synonymous with the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian phenomenon than Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. Part music, part heritage, part ancestry, part fashion and part revelry, this dynamic folk performance comes to life with Boudreaux’s gifted talent for this distinct African American art.

After backing up some of the best performers in New Orleans history, Walter “Wolfman” Washington became known for his own band, The Roadmasters. His guitar style is a mainstay in the Crescent City’s music scene, combining R & B, blues, New Orleans funk and modern jazz.

Chandler Center for the Arts cannot wait for these distinct artists to take our main stage in one of the shows most anticipated by our staff this season.  

The Inspiration for Take Me to the River - LIVE!

In 2014, director Martin Shore introduced audiences to the music of Memphis and the Mississippi Delta in an hour-long documentary called, Take Me to the River. The film brought together multiple generations of musicians from the region to capture the historic recording of a new album. The resulting award-winning film, turned into a movement and education initiative that put culture, history and cross-generational collaboration into the limelight.

The music of Take Me to the River was brought to cities nationwide with a live music tour of the artists who were featured in the movie and album. The successful tour led to the creation of Take Me to the River – New Orleans Live!