New Orleans Music Events

Blues / Rhythm & Blues

Reggie Hall, keyboardist, bandleader and writer is best known for his 1964 hit “The Joke”. Hall has quietly carved a small but enjoyable niche for himself in the annals of New Orleans music.

Hall began playing piano as a boy in his home on Caffin Avenue in the Lower 9^th Ward. His mom had a piano in the house that he could not stop playing. He started playing rhythm and blues at the time when most people called it rock n’ roll.

Early in his career, he began writing songs, a practice which eventually brought him much notoriety. One of the first songs he wrote was “You talk too much” made famous by Joe Jones around 1960. Fats Domino on ABC recorded “Wigs” and “Lazy Lady” in the late 60’s.

Hall has a great rhythm and blues band with some of New Orleans finest musicians at his side. Hall and his band play festivals, private parties, and special events from New Orleans to Nice and all points in between.

Don’t miss the chance to experience the rhythm and blues sounds by one of New Orleans’ greatest talents. He has a 6 – 9 piece band that require sound and lighting.

Irma Thomas

"The Soul Queen of New Orleans"

She’s one of the most enduring soul survivors in contemporary music, a New Orleans icon whose artistry is firmly rooted in her skill as a potent musical storyteller and lyrical interpreter. Irma Thomas is, quite simply, one of a kind: a soulful, down-home natural woman who has sustained a career for a remarkable four decades. A two-time Grammy nominee and recipient of a Pioneer Award from The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, Irma’s triumphant teaming with Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson for the 1998 best-selling album Sing It! further expanded her audience, exposing a new group of music fans to one of the music industry’s most vibrant performers.

Her live performance is a non-stop dance party. Her show is full of energy and packed with soul.

Benny Turner and Real Blues

Click on Benny's photo for bio, song samples, videos and more!

Born in New Orleans, pianist/composer Henry Butler started singing at age seven in the boys' glee club at Louisiana School for the Blind. Continuing his studies in classical piano and voice, Butler attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and completed his master's degree at Michigan State University.

From 1980 to 1987 he lived and performed in Los Angeles, where he recorded two albums for the MCA/Impulse label while working in radio and as a music consultant for Motown and the Stevie Wonder organization.

He furthered his education by studying with musicians Roland Hanna, George Duke, Cannonball Adderley and Harold Mabern. He spent three years living and performing in New York City before accepting an Associate Professor of Music position at Eastern Illinois University. In 1996 he returned to his home town, where he now concentrates on his composing and performing career.

Butler's musical influences range from German lieder and Schubert (whose chromatic style Butler says has been highly influential on his own) to his New Orleans predecessors Professor Longhair and James T. Booker.

Luther Kent was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Early in his career after recording his first solo record, Luther was asked to come aboard as new lead singer for "Blood, Sweet & Tears". He did their world tour dates in 1974-75 and part of 76. During this time he learned he would not be granted a release from his previous record company, therefore he was never allowed to record with the world famous group.

Since then, Luther has performed & recorded with big names such as; Boz Scaggs, B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Page, Bonnie Bramlett, Greg Allman, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Stevie Winwood, Bo Diddley, Dr. John, Rita Coolidge, Righteous Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, ZZ Top, Rickie Lee Jones, Mick Fleetwood, Billy Preston, Ernie K-doe, Mike Post, Average White Band, AL Hirt, Billy Ekstein and Pete Fountain.

Luther released 3 CD's while winning a Cleo award with another Louisiana artist known to many as John Fred of "Judy In Disguise" fame.

From doing many radio & TV commercials Luther is also a multi "Addy" award winner. He also takes credit for being the voice of Joe The Camel.

Vasti Jackson

Guitarist, songwriter and producer Vasti Jackson may well be the busiest musician in Mississippi. In the last several years, the Hattiesburg resident has appeared in several feature films, a documentary and a TV show, co-produced a Grammy-nominated album, and worked as a session man and road musician for numerous artists. Jackson also performs with his own band and as a solo acoustic act.

After a short stay in L.A, Jackson returned to Jackson, where he became the musical director for Z.Z. Hill just on the cusp of Hill’’s huge success with ““Down Home Blues”” on Malaco. Jackson played guitar on the Malaco records of Latimore, Denise LaSalle, Bobby Rush and Johnnie Taylor. He also drew on his formal musical training in writing horn and string arrangements for the label, and co-produced Rush’’s Grammy-nominated CD from 2002, ““Hoochie Man.”” Jackson recently worked on records by Cassandra Wilson and Michael Burks, as well as New Orleans-based Henry Butler and John Cleary; he’’ll be backing the latter artists during South By Southwest in Austin this year. Also exciting, Jackson has been working with New Orleans vocalist and pianist Harry Connick, Jr. and his new nine-piece unit. ““This group, this is soulful, funky New Orleans music with jazz overtones,”” Jackson says. ““[Connick] keeps it open for all the players, with lots of solos. He’s looser than with the big band stuff.”” In between gigs with Connick, Jackson will be appearing March 6 at the Roots Reunion show at Saenger Theatre in Hattiesburg, April 2 will perform acoustically at Tougaloo College, April 23 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, June 2-6 Ameristar Casino’ Bottleneck Blues Bar, Vicksburg, Mississippi June 11 at the Chicago Blues Festival, and June 12 the Iron Horse Festival, McComb, Mississippi. ““No Borders to the Blues”” is available at BeBop.

Infidelity staring Kim Delaney, featuring the Vasti Jackson original composition “Casino” performed by New Orleans piano great Henry Butler.