Legends and luminaries from the Big Easy and beyond gathered at the Joy Theater over the weekend for Crescent City Classics, a celebration of the vibrant legacy and living lineage of New Orleans funk.

After debuting at the Joy in 2024 and then exporting the festivities to Colorado to headline Denver Comes Alive earlier this year, Crescent City Classics returned home to New Orleans during the second weekend of Jazz Fest, packing out the 1,200-capacity theater for an evening of soulful songs and deep-pocket funk.

This year’s lineup brought together multiple generations of artists including local music royalty like The Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and The Meters/Neville Brothers mainstay Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion); Dumpstaphunk torch-bearers Ivan Neville (keys, vocals), Ian Neville (guitar, music director), Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals), Deven Trusclair (drums), Alex Wasily (trombone), and Brad Walker (saxophone); Lettuce bandmates Adam Deitch (drums), Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet), and Ryan Zoidis (saxophones); contemporary New Orleans go-getters like Galactic’s Jelly Joseph (vocals), The Rumble’s Andriu Yanovski (keys), and teenage prodigy River Eckert (keys); and decorated guitarist Eric Krasno.

The combination of Deitch and Trusclair on double drums made for a powerful rhythmic foundation, like a traditional second line band with multiple percussionists blending together in a unified groove.

George Porter Jr. and Tony Hall rounded out the rhythm section with thumping bass lines, along with Shmeeans, Krasno, and Ian Neville’s funky fretwork and a cadre of keyboardists, with Ivan Neville holding it down for much of the show.

Having a full horn section made up of players from two of the funkiest bands around (Lettuce and Dumpstaphunk) took the band’s expansive sound over the top, adding a layer of festive brass fit for a Mardi Gras parade.

Even with so many musicians on stage, many of whom don’t play together otherwise, the band was locked in like a seasoned ensemble, united by a shared rhythmic intuition and the unmistakable swing of New Orleans funk.

The show culminated with a surprise appearance from Cory Henry, who joined River Eckert on keys for the Meters classic “Hey Pocky A-Way”. Eckert, who was the youngest musician on stage at just 15 years old, played electric piano while Henry, a former prodigy himself, took over on organ for Ivan Neville and brought down the house with a spirit-lifting solo.

Check out a clip of the electrifying “Hey Pocky A-Way” closer featuring Cory Henry and click below to view a gallery of photos from Crescent City Classics courtesy of photographer Jay Strausser.