John "Papa" Gros w/s/g The NoLaNauts

351 Hudson Avenue,Albany NY 12210

19 March, 2022

Description

Get ready for a New Orleans style party at Lark Hall as we welcome John "Papa" Gros and his full band to our stage! 'Sharing New Orleans with the world is my calling,” says pianist and organist John “Papa” Gros (pronounced grow).“That's what I have been doing and that's what I’ll do with the rest of my life.” For over three decades, Gros has brought his city’s celebratory culture to listeners around the globe. Gros mixes all the sounds of New Orleans - funk, trad jazz, brass band, blues - and makes it his own signature gumbo. His new solo album Central City, shows Gros capturing New Orleans’ distinct feel-good charm with help from some of its’ most renowned players. Gros began playing gigs when he was just fifteen years old but didn’t truly kick off his career until after graduating from Loyola in 1989 with a degree in French Horn performance. During the seminal years that followed, the young man cut his teeth as a solo performer on Bourbon Street while also developing a reputation as a formidable sideman. He backed up some of the biggest names in the Crescent City,: such as Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and guitarist Snooks Eaglin. Between 2000 and 2013, Gros began his transition into the spotlight by leading Papa Grows Funk, a highly revered group that mixed hard-hitting funk grooves with often unpredictable jazz spontaneity. The band released six critically-acclaimed studio albums while touring the U.S. and far off countries like Japan and Brazil. This year, John “Papa” Gros released Central City, his third solo album. The album is a collection of classic New Orleans songs, both new and old, filtered through his decades of dedication to his craft. The album features Gros’ feel good originals alongside his takes on beloved songs by Allen Toussaint, Lloyd Price, and John Prine. Joining Gros on the album are a who’s who in the keepers of the New Orleans tradition, who perfectly exploit the similarities between New Orleans jazz and early rock 'n' roll on songs such as "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and "Personality." Gros absorbed a lifetime of lessons and became part of the direct lineage of New Orleans music. “I’m walking in the same path as Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Art Neville,” explains Gros. “I’ve been following them my whole life. Now, they’re no longer in front of me. They’ve gotten off the path but the path is still very clear.” www.johnpapagros.com jWe are the NoLaNauts, a spicy groove collective dedicated to serving up a healthy dose of "Who Dat Funk" The NoLaNauts reflect years of living, visiting, immersing and loving New Orleans, its people and their rich culture. New Orleans is the most interesting city in the United States and it lives by its own rules and traditions – Mardi Gras – Jazz Fest – Red Beans – Tipitina's – PoBoys – Preservation Hall – Crawfish and festivals that celebrate every aspect of being alive and being in the Crescent City. The NoLaNauts are the dream of Tom O’Connor and Brian Lawlor who have faithfully participated in every available New Orleans experience including decades of nearly religious attendance at New Orleans’ Jazz and Heritage Festival. Tom and Brian have played music together for over 30 years and seized the opportunity to assemble some of the finest musicians in the area to bring a taste of the New Orleans music scene to life in the Northeast. These musicians have worked tirelessly to respectfully capture the joy and depth of the music of New Orleans including the Meters, Allen Toussaint, Dr.John, Neville Brothers, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Subdudes, Little Feat, The Iguanas and many more artists who honor the spirit of New Orleans and its people. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Hanging out with the NoLaNauts can be a mildly infectious. Symptoms include: Loss of inhibition, careless displays of groove induced happiness, feverish outbreaks of funky fires and decadent desires. Fortunately….for all of our sisters and brothers…. there is no known antidote for this condition! So- put on your dancing shoes and load up on the beads!!