New Orleans-based future funk act Naughty Professor is heading to New York City on Thursday, March 23rd at American Beauty – with special guest vocalist Cole DeGenova (purchase tickets here). With a frontline horn section, and a jazz-inspired, funk-formulating rhythm section, anything is possible with these guys. With the release of 2016’s In The Flesh, the group catapulted into the spotlight, garnering the respect from fellow Big Easy musicians and acts such as George Porter Jr., The Revivalists, Galactic, and Rebirth Brass Band.

Now, with a new album on the way Identity, featuring special guest collaborators from the New Orleans music scene, the sound of Naughty Professor is even more refined. Similar to the approach of fellow instrumental jazz/funk experts Snarky Puppy and their Family Dinner sessions, the band’s upcoming album will feature special guest spots from Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Benny Bloom (Lettuce), Mike Dillon, members of The Soul Rebels, and many more. We caught up with drummer Sam Shahin to discuss what they’re up to. Read below!

Live For Live Music: It’s been over 2 years since you’ve all graduated college and been able to fully submerge yourself in the life of a touring band. Tell us about this experience.

Sam Shahin: It’s a life-changing experience immersing yourself in every aspect of the band. We have tried to stay diligent in every aspect, and ultimately playing live is the strongest way to create a direct connection. Meeting the myriad of wonderful folks who have supported us both on and off stage has been a real thrill.

L4LM: Typically an instrumental band, you’re gearing up to release a new album “Identity” with guest vocalists. Can you tell us about what made you decide to introduce these characters to your plot?

SS: Every song on “Identity” has a featured artist, including a wide range of vocalists and instrumentalists. We all have so many musical interests and influences as individuals, and the prospect of expanding what our ensemble could do was very exciting. Joining forces in the creative process was very important to us throughout, as the collaborators on this album were chosen because we have such a tremendous amount of respect for what they do and felt that they could be a complement to our ensemble.

L4LM: Sharing the road with Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na must’ve been a pretty great experience. Tell us about that!

SS: Chali is an absolute monster in every capacity. He tears it up on and off stage professionally (working with him in rehearsals and studio are a true joy), and that joy and passion transfer to our personal lives as well. He’s a spectacular energy force to have around.

L4LM: By definition, you’re a New Orleans band. How do you translate that culture into your live performance when you’re visiting various cities around the country?

SS: We have a genuine thirst for the exploration of our home city’s eclectic musical landscape. New Orleans is the reason that we were all able to come together, and it’s the reason we’ve been able to continue making music together. We all were drawn to the city, and we all have endless admiration for the history of the music culture in New Orleans. In no way are we a traditional New Orleans band, but New Orleans musical and cultural traditions have everything to do with how we make music.

L4LM: What’s special about visiting NYC for you guys?

SS: There’s always a cache to being in New York City because by definition you’re on the biggest stage in the country and you always have to bring your A game. It’s always exciting and inspiring being around a city with such a unique and magnificent presence.

L4LM: Cole DeGenova is your special guest for this run. Tell us about his involvement.

SS: Cole is perennial lover of the New Orleans music community. His involvement in our band started with our first full length album, Until the Next Time where he was featured on organ for our song “Chef’s Special.” He has fantastic talent on voice, organ, and songwriting so this album of featured artists felt like the perfect time to collaborate with him on an original song. From there, we’ve worked with him in rehearsal to play more of the vocal songs from the upcoming album Identity and his versatility has been a great asset to bringing him on the road and playing a wide variety of material.

L4LM: What else can we expect from Naughty Professor’s show at American Beauty?

SS: The heat.

Grammy-Award-winning trumpeter Maurice “Mobetta” Brown and SOUL’D U OUT will be joining the show, featuring a full set of Brown’s hip-hop/jazz-inspired flavors with plenty of soul. Brown is widely recognized for his tenure with Tedeschi Trucks Band, but has also been featured on dozens of stellar recordings alongside greats like Aretha Franklin, De La Soul, Diddy, Lettuce, and Cee-Lo Green, to name a few. More recently, Mobetta dedicated his time entirely to a solo career, featuring a stellar band blending hip-hop, jazz, soul, and funk-inspired beats from all over the map.

The combination of Naughty Professor and SOUL’D U OUT is a perfect pairing of musical tastes, with plenty of funk, soul, jazz, and beats to accommodate your palate. Don’t miss out on this incredible lineup, and purchase tickets to American Beauty this Thursday, March 23rd here.

– Show Info –
Artist: Naughty Professor with support from Maurice “Mobetta” Brown and SOUL’D U OUT
Venue: American Beauty NYC
Date: Thursday – March 23rd, 2017
Ages: 21+
Tickets: $12.50adv / $15dos (Purchase HERE)