New Orleans has gained a reputation for raising some of the best musical talents in not only the U.S. but the world. In the spirit of New Orleans, Jazz Fest, and the overall vibe that The Big Easy embodies, in a couple of weeks, the Rocky Mountain region will throwdown real-deal N’awlins style with the Dragon Smoke and Green Is Beautiful double-header at Denver, Colorado’s Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom on Saturday, December 2nd. (Purchase tickets here).
Eddie Roberts Honors Grant Green In Denver With Special “Green Is Beautiful” Run [Photos]
During 2003’s Jazz Fest, Dragon Smoke was born at the famed Dragon’s Den, becoming an annual must-see super-jam performance at the iconic music festival each year since. Consisting of Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Rob Mercurio (Galactic), Stanton Moore (Galactic), and Eric Lindell, the project centers around Lindell’s southern soul, Neville’s funk and R&B, and the Galactic members’ deep pocket groove. Besides a few trips to the East and West Coast’s over the years, Dragon Smoke has been strictly played in New Orleans. With everyone in the band being a leader in their own right, it is a rare treat to get this act together—though, from the interplay between the members, you’d think that Dragon Smoke has been playing shows forever.
Dragon Smoke, “Country Livin'” — One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans, LA, 4/28/2015
[via Marc Millman]
Green Is Beautiful is a tribute to none other than Blue Note Records jazz legend Grant Green. The New Mastersounds guitarist Eddie Roberts and Soulive drummer Alan Evans have first debuted this tribute project in NOLA at back during Bear Creek Bayou in 2016. In addition to these two legendary jazz-funk-fusion icons, this iteration of Green Is Beautiful will see a bevy of special guests musicians who will help in honoring Grant Green and his prolific catalog featuring iconic tunes, such as “Upshot”, “March On Selma”, “Farid”, “Ain’t It Funky”, and more. Earlier in the year, Roberts and Evans brought their Green Is Beautiful side project to Colorado, much to the delight of the Colorado faithful (read a review of the show here), marking one of the most talked-about runs of the spring.
Green Is Beautiful, “I Am Somebody” — Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, LA, 5/7/2017
[via ginsengbob]
Tickets for Dragon Smoke and Green Is Beautiful’s doubleheader at Cervantes on Saturday, December 2nd, are currently on-sale and can be purchased here. For event updates and additional information, join the Facebook Event page.
