New Orleans Sauce:
Ivan Neville
– Vocalists, Keyboard
Ivan Neville is a prominent American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and the nephew of the Neville Brothers. Ivan has released four solo albums and gained recognition with his Top 30 Billboard hit "Not Just Another Girl" from his debut album If My Ancestors Could See Me Now. He collaborated with Bonnie Raitt on his second single, "Falling Out of Love," which reached 91 on the Billboard charts.
Ivan has played with notable artists and bands, including contributing keyboards to The Rolling Stones albums Dirty Work and Voodoo Lounge. He toured with Keith Richards’ solo band, the X-Pensive Winos, and was a member of Bonnie Raitt's band from 1985 to 1987, co-writing "All Day, All Night" for her Nine Lives album.
In 2003, Ivan formed his own band, Dumpstaphunk, which self-released its debut album Everybody Want Sum in 2010. The band gained a reputation for high-energy funk performances and has appeared on shows like The Late Show with David Letterman. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Ivan joined The New Orleans Social Club to record the benefit album Sing Me Back Home, with his rendition of John Fogerty's "Fortunate Son" receiving critical acclaim.
Ivan has also been active in charity work, performing benefit shows for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. His current band includes Nick Daniels, Tony Hall, Ian Neville, and Raymond Weber. Together, they continue to contribute to the New Orleans music scene, keeping the city's vibrant funk tradition alive.
Tony Hall
– Vocals, Bass Guitar
Tony Hall is a bassist, guitarist, and vocalist in New Orleans and founding member of the acclaimed funk band Dumpstaphunk. Tony has had the pleasure of touring with an impressive multitude of artists including Harry Connick Jr., Jewel, Emmylou Harris, The Meters, Z.Z. Hill, Johnnie Taylor, The Neville Brothers, N’Dea Davenport, Dave Matthews & Friends, and Trey Anastasio.
Tony Hall maintains a vast recording catalogue. While often regarded for his bass lines on “The Maker” by Daniel Lanois and “Yellow Moon” by the Neville Brothers, Hall’s album discography also includes:
Bob Dylan - Old Mercy
Daniel Lanois - Acadie
Edie Brickell - Picture Perfect
The Neville Brothers - Yellow Moon, Brother’s Keeper, Family Groove, and Live on Planet Earth
Aaron Neville - Warm Your Heart
Harry Connick Jr. - She, Star Turtle, Smokey Mary, Every Man Should Know
Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball, Stumble into Grace
N’DEA Davenport - Lilith Fair Soundtrack
Jewel - “Jupiter (Swallow The Moon) remix”, “Deep Water - Live”, and Live At Woodstock
Dave Matthews - Some Devil
Trey Anastasio - Original Boardwalk Style, Live In Aspen
B.B. King - Goin Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
Dumpstaphunk - Listen Here, Everybody Want Sum, Dirty Word,
Where Do We Go From Here
Marc Broussard - Marc Broussard
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews - Parking Lot Symphony
Dr. John - Things Happen That Way
Maceo Parker - Soul Food: Cooking With Maceo
Bobby Rush - Sitting on Top of The Blues
Erica Falls - Home Grown, “Don’t Stop Your Lovin’”
Ivan Neville - Blessed
Joe Marcinek - Dead Funk Summit
Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph
– Vocals
Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph is a Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter whose musical talents and gifts have taken her far beyond her hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. Born to a mother with gospel roots and a father known for soulful blues, Joseph's voice is a perfect combination of spiritual, soulful and raw. Internationally known for her work with Tank and The Bangas, HaSizzle, and as the frontwoman of Galactic, traveling and sharing her eccentric and sassy vocals is the singer's main passion. Her first solo release “FYA” was released on July 15th, 2022. Her debut solo album will be released in 2024.
George Porter Jr.
– Bass Guitar
Best known as the bassist of The Meters, along with Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli and Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste. The group was formed in the mid 60's and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk then called R&B. The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989.
Today the original group still plays the occasional reunions but the Funky Meters, of which Porter and Neville are still members, most prominently keeps the spirit alive. Few bass players in the history of modern New Orleans music are as storied as George Porter Jr. During the course of a career spanning more than four decades, Porter has not only made a deep impression with his work in the Meters, but he's notched session work with artists as diverse as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett, David Byrne, Patti LaBelle, Robbie Robertson, Tori Amos, Taj Mahal, Ryan Montbleau and live performances with Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Warren Haynes, John Scofield, Steve Kimock, Eric Krasno (including recent studio releases with Warren Haynes and Bill Kreutzmann) just to name a few.
Early in his career, Porter worked with seminal New Orleans artists like Allen Toussaint, Earl King, Lee Dorsey, Johnny Adams, Irma Thomas, and The Lastie Brothers — again to only name a few.
Porter is also the band leader of his own unique long term project the Runnin' Pardners, well respected not only as a quintessential New Orleans band, the touring band continues to receive accolades on the jam band and festival scene. He has assembled some seasoned and talented musicians to join him on this project. Familiar Pardners - Brint Anderson (guitar) and, Michael Lemmler (keyboards) and rising stars on the New Orleans music scene Khris Royal (saxophone) and Terrence Houston (drums). George Porter Jr. plans to keep a smile on his face." I feel like I am working towards something that will be remembered."
Porter has proven to be capable of the ultimate fusion of rock, funk and R&B, and has gained recognition as one of the industry's elite bass players. He continues to be not only an in-demand performing artist but an accomplished studio musician and producer.
George plays bass on “Yip Man” and “Good As It Gets Anymore”.
Stanton Moore
– Drums
Stanton Moore is a GRAMMY award-winning drummer, educator and performer born and raised in New Orleans. He is especially connected to his hometown city, its culture and collaborative spirit. In the early ‘90s, Moore helped found the New Orleans-based essential funk band Galactic who continue to amass a worldwide audience via recording and touring globally. The band has averaged 100 shows a year for the last 25 years.
In 2018, Moore and his bandmates in Galactic pooled their resources to purchase the internationally renown music venue Tipitina’s.
Moore launched his solo career in 1998. He has 8 records under his own name with the most current being "With You In Mind: The Songs of Allen Toussaint".
Throughout his 25 year career, Moore has played and or recorded with a diverse group of artists including Maceo Parker, Joss Stone, Irma Thomas, Leo Nocentelli and George Porter (of the Meters),Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine), Corrosion of Conformity, Donald Harrison Jr., Nicholas Payton, Trombone Shorty, Skerik, Charlie Hunter, Robert Walter, Will Bernard, Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He has also appeared numerous times on the Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'brien and Seth Meyers late night TV night shows.
With a bachelor’s degree in music and business from Loyola University, Moore stays involved in education by constantly presenting clinics and teaching master classes and private lessons all over the world. He has released two book and three video projects. His book Groove Alchemy was picked by Modern Drummer as one of the top 25 instructional drum books of all time. To continue with his passion for teaching and to become more closely connected with his students, he recently launched his own online drum academy, StantonMooreDrumAcademy.com.
Stanton plays on “Yip Man”, “Good As It Gets Anymore”, “Chicken”, and “Flea Market”.
Big Sam
– Trombone
“Big Sam” Williams is a trombonist, vocalist, and front man of the New Orleans group Big Sam’s Funky Nation. A Crescent City native, Sam studied with saxophonist Kidd Jordan and at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. In his teens, Williams became a founding member of the Stooges Brass Band and joined the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, allowing him to play with Karl Denson, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic, and James Brown. In 2006, he played with Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint on their album The River in Reverse and tour. He also played recurring role on the critically acclaimed HBO series Tremé.
Big Sam’s Funky Nation is known for a boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, nothing short of seismic live “experiences”.
“By playing on these streets, you learn how to work your craft and entertain an audience,” exclaims Sam. “You can go to Julliard and Berklee all you want, but they won’t teach you how to rock a stage. It comes naturally in New Orleans. I’ve been here my whole life and rocking these streets. Even during Hurricane Katrina, I drove nine hours from San Antonio every weekend for two years just to play live. The sound out here is unlike anything else in the world. It’s not just a figure of speech—there’s music going all night, literally.”
Big Sam’s Funky Nation has released five fan favorite albums and quietly developed a devout following. Powered by jaw-dropping technical talent and uncontainable energy on stage, Big Sam ensures you’re not just a part of the crowd, but “a part of the show dancing and singing along.” Beyond standout sets at the likes of Voodoo Music + Experience and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the group has performed at Bonnaroo, South by Southwest, and Austin City Limits.
Ben Ellman
– Saxophone
Ben Ellman is an American saxophonist, harmonica player, and producer most widely known as a member the New Orleans-based funk band Galactic, with whom he has made eight studio albums. He joined the group in 1994, when they were known as Galactic Prophylactic. Ben also works as a DJ under the name Gypsyphonic Disko, where he mixes New Orleans style funk with klezmer, Eastern European and other exotic music.
Jerry “JBlakk” Henderson
– Bass
Jerry Henderson AKA Jblakk grew up in the church and was inspired by the melodic sounds of gospel music. He began playing drums and moved to the trumpet in grade school. He studied classical and jazz at Dillard High School Performing Arts School where he won many awards playing trumpet including the Gateway Festival Best Jazz Solo and Best Jazz Band. Jblakk picked up the bass guitar his senior of high school due to is love for the concept of groove. Jerry received his first bass guitar as a high school graduation gift and he quickly became beyond proficient emulating one of his heroes at the time, Jaco Pastorius.
Jerry moved to Baton Rouge, LA to attend Southern University and got his first gig playing for New Hope Baptist Church, where hemet one of his main mentors Cecil Houston. After graduation from college, Jerry began playing bass for Beacon Light led by Bishop Darryl Brister playing full time, where he grew into the infamous Jblakk, taking his practicing and playing more serious than ever. Jerry has been invited to play on many gospel, funk and rock records throughout the South and continues to progress as a professional musician. Jerry now also owns a recording studio where he records and produces mainly gospel, jazz, hiphop and soul records. Jerry has produced records for Lisa McLenndon, Nancy Armstrong, Ronald Julian, Cal Il, Kim Chere andGreater Mount Calvary to name a new. On stage Jerry currently plays bass with many bands including John Cleary and Phat Hat.
A few of Jblakk’s credits: Lisa McClendon, Reality (Composer)Tara Alexander, Full Circle, (Bass, Arranger, Composer) JohnAnthony, reBirth of Ja, (Bass) Lisa McClendon, Live from theHouse of Blues (Bass, Composer) Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr., Live in New Orleans [DVD] (Bass) Minister Timothy Britten & Shabach Praise Co., Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (Bass) Louisiana StateMass Choir Featuring Bishop Larry, (His Name Is Jesus (Bass)Pastor Woodrow Hayden & Shiloh, I Know It Was the Blood (Bass)Beacon Light Mass Choir & Bishop Darryl S. Brister, It’s AllAbout Him (Bass) Kim Che’re, Free to Be Me, Bass (ExecutiveProducer, Producer)
Terrence Houston
– Drums
Terrence "Groove Guardian" Houston lays down sprightly, snare-informed rhythms that ratchet any band up to the next level.With his impressive technical fluency (across genres) and a perpetual enthusiasm for exploring new sonic realms. Currently, he is the drummer for GeorgePorter, Jr. and the Runnin’ Pardners, Toubab Krewe, and Slugger. A list which mixes old and new, jazz fusion and funk, New Orleans R&B and multinational instrumental jams.
Born into a musical family in Baton Rouge, Houston grew up playing in church bands, marching bands, symphonic bands, and his family’s gospel group. In high school, he shifted much of his attention to R&B and blues, and, after graduating, spent a year marching and studying music performance at Southern University under master percussionists Herman Jackson and Derrick Hillard. Jackson soon convinced him that, despite his youth, Houston already had what he needed to launch his career.
Following this advice, the young drummer relocated to New Orleans to partake in the post-Katrina music revival. He played classic rock on Bourbon Street before shifting gears to gig onFrenchmen Street and beyond. He became a permanent member of George Porter Jr. andtheRunnin’Pardners in 2009 (after learning all the audition music in two days), and the rest hasbeen history.Houston would like to thank DW Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth and Protection Racket fortheir support.
Terence Higgins
– Drums
Terence’s professional career has taken him all over the world and his unsurpassed skills on the drums have allowed him to play with an eclectic group of musicians. Terence credits George Porter Jr. of the Meters and members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band for taking him under his wing and introducing him to the vast repertoire of New Orleans music.
Terence has performed with numerous artists including The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dr. John, John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, Robert Randolph, The Black Crows, North Mississippi All-Stars, Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk, John Scofield, Norah Jones, Widespread Panic, Earl King, Marva Wright, Kermit Ruffin, Snooks Eaglin, Johnny Adams, George Porter Jr., The Wild Magnolias, Dave Badie, Jon Cleary, Donald Harrison, John Scofield Piety Street Band,
Allen Toussaint, Michelle Shocked, Renee Mcrary, DJ Logic, Bobby Jordan, Ed Perkins, Theryl "Houseman" Decluet, Michael Ward, Treme Brass band, Fats Domino, and many other New Orleans musicians.
Terence is now touring and recording with Ani DiFranco, Tab Benoit, Warren Haynes Band, The Last Waltz 40th Anniversary Band, as well as his own band Swampgrease. Growing up in New Orleans exposed Terence to some of the greatest music and culture the world has to offer. Terence is no exception, as the next generation continues the legacy of New Orleans musical heritage.
Terence plays drums on “I’ll Give It A Try”.
