In the world of local funk, there are few praises higher than “DJ Soul Sister’s Favorite DJ,” but that’s who will be playing his first show in New Orleans December 17.

A 20-plus-year veteran, Dâm-Funk’s star began to rise a few years ago when word of his DJ night, “Funkmosphere,” spread throughout Los Angeles and beyond. The weekly party had originally been titled “1983,” a salute to the synth and bass-heavy sound that had long been neglected in favor of Meters/James Brown-styled funk and Parliament/Funkadelic-like R&B among retro-lovers.

Dâm (government name: Damon Riddick) came up in the early ’90s under the wing of producer Leon Sylvers, and by mid-decade he was playing keyboards on R&B and hip-hop sessions in L.A. His label, Stones Throw Records, recently released Adolescent Funk, home-made recordings from his formative years, and besides the Jacko, Prince and P-Funk influences, it’s clear that new wave, hip-hop and jazz inspired the young Riddick as well. Last year’s Toeachizown—an epic 5-disc album—showed those early ideas in their full maturation. Riddick speaks frequently of cosmic vibrations, and when he touches down this month in a city full of them, you’ll find funk’s biggest fan in top form.

Dâm-Funk plays at 10 p.m. Friday, December 17 at One Eyed Jacks. Tickets $10, $7 for ladies before 11 p.m.