Take Me to The River

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Take Me To The River-New Orleans Live (their purpose is to raise awareness of the need to bring music education back to our public schools

Fox Theatre, Tucson, AZ, USA, October 8. 2019

by Mary Andrews

The Big Easy came to the Old Pueblo on the first stop of the Take Me To the River-New Orleans Live tour. The tour is organized to raise awareness of the need to bring music education back to our public schools. It is targeted for middle and high school students. Take Me To The River teaches us not to lose our musical legacy. The mission of Take Me to the River is to make sure that generations coming after us know where our music came from. New Orleans is one of the most important examples of an American musical legacy.

The musical gumbo began with a short film of Irma Thomas and Ledesi in the recording studio in New Orleans accompanied by George Porter Jr. singing a new version of “Wish Someone Would Care.”

The film was quickly followed up with “Big Chief” Monk Bourdreaux and “Big Chief” Romeo Bougere of the 9th Ward Hunters taking the stage to perform songs in their traditional Mardi Gras Indian style using a predominant percussion accompaniment.

Both performers were wearing their Mardi Gras regalia.

Take Me To The River (credit: Mary Andrews)

They were joined by Ivan and Ian Neville from Dumpstaphunk later in their set along on keyboards and guitar. Both performers are from one of the most famous bloodlines in New Orleans. Ivan is the son of Aaron Neville and Ian is Aaron Neville’s nephew. Both musicians are masters of New Orleans funk providing powerhouse keys and heavy guitar riffs. Kevin Truss on drums and Tony Hall on guitar and bass also joined the band.

Walter “Wolfman” Washington made a quick entrance after Bourdreaux and Bougere finished their set. Washington added a blues element to the evening with his chameleon-like guitar playing. His blend of R&B, funk, and blues is very unique. Dressed in his trademark red suit made to match his signature electric, red guitar, he has come a long way from playing a homemade cigar box guitar. Much of his personality was revealed during his short set.

The ambiance of the night changed dramatically when The Dirty Dozen Brass Band appeared for their set. The stage was filled with musicians, the smoke machines were going full force, and the mood was much like a club in New Orleans. The crowd was suddenly on their feet, dancing and gyrating to the funk sounds in the theatre. The transformation was striking. The band was ready to ‘get down.’

The band members included Roger Lewis on baritone sax and vocals, Kevin Harris on tenor sax and vocals, Gregory Davis on trumpet and vocals, Kirk Joseph on sousaphone,TJ Norris on trombone and vocals, Julian Addison on Drums and Takeshi Shimmura on guitar. Not a dozen musicians, but add the other musicians that were already playing, you had many more than a dozen players. That included two drummers and a percussionist.

There was no setlist. The set was improvised as much as the musical arrangements. One of the musicians said that was always the way it is. Sousaphone player, Joseph, is the unofficial leader of the band and if he doesn’t like what is being played, he will change it. Tributes to fellow New Orleans legends Dr. John and Fats Domino were given with the songs, “Right Place, Wrong Time” and “I’m Walkin.’” More songs included “Fire and Brimstone” and B.B. King’s “Everyday I Have the Blues.”

Davis called out to “the lady in the blue shirt” who was dancing in the isle to join the band on stage. She and a friend shuffled to the stage giving the crowd some of their best hoochie-coochie dance moves as the band played on. Nothing like some good old audience participation.

The finale was, of course, Take Me To the River” with everyone returning to the stage.