It’s shaping up to be a fine month for lovers of vintage New Orleans R&B. As reported last week, Davell Crawford is about to launch a “Legends Series” at the Little Gem, which will spotlight Irma Thomas for the opening show October 11. But before that, Crawford and Thomas will both be part of a notable show at Tipitina’s Friday night, September 20. Known for exploring and expanding on the jazz tradition, Irvin Mayfield and his New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) are turning their attention to classic New Orleans R&B. This Friday they present the “New Orleans R&B Throwback” at Tipitina’s with a handful of special guests and a stack of timeless material.

Irma Thomas is special guest at NOJO's tribute Friday at Tipitina's.

The night will be dedicated to the music of four R&B masters: Art Neville, Fats Domino, Clarence “Frogman” Henry and Thomas herself. Along with Thomas and Crawford, Charmaine Neville will be guesting with the band—and we can already imagine her lending her flexible voice to the froggie bits in Henry’s “Ain’t Got No Home.” Mayfield has of course worked a few R&B songs onto his albums with Los Hombres Calientes, and during his Love Sessions last month he wound up playing “Cissy Strut” and “Hi-Heel Sneakers” with George Porter Jr.

The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $19, or a $86 VIP ticket gets you a place in Tip’s exclusive balcony.  A VIP ticket also includes a “four-hour, top-shelf open bar for one person”—which we suppose means that if the band fails to play your favorite New Orleans R&B nugget, you won’t care.