Leo Nocentelli, featuring the sounds of the world-famous funk band, the Meters, will highlight the upcoming Funky Uncle-sponsored series during the 2023 Jazz Fest at Zony Mash Beer Project.

David Batiste, Sr. Photo: Courtesy Funky Uncle

The sounds of New Orleans’ quintessential funk band— the Meters, in this historic configuration for the very first time ever—will be led by founding member, funk star, guitarist and lyricist Leo Nocentelli, a GRAMMY lifetime achievement award recipient. The group will also include Louisiana Music Hall of Famer David Russell Batiste, Sr., the Meters’ keyboard player for three years  (including the famous Saturday Night Live show). The group will also include Batiste, Sr.’s son David Russell Batiste, Jr. (Russell), the drummer for the Funky Meters for 22 years. To keep the funk flowing, the group will have two bassists–Donald Ramsey and “Thunder Thumbs” Bill “The Buddha” Dickens. A veritable powerhouse of funk will perform in this Jazz Fest series for two nights – April 28 and 29. Each show will be different.
Rounding off the rest of the eight-night series in a powerhouse of jam is a star-studded lineup that will also include The New Orleans Suspects, Bonerama, Tribal Gold featuring Big Chief Juan Pardo, members of the Golden Comanche and the New Orleans Suspects, Steeln’ Peaches (Allman Brother’s Tribute); Panic Stricken (Widespread Panic Tribute); and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

The Funky Uncle has raised over $800,000 and supported over 850 musicians and gig workers since April 2020. All profits from these shows will be used

Russell Batiste. Photo: Courtesy Funky Uncle

for this charitable purpose and a $5 per ticket charge is being added to support the efforts of Grace at the Greenlight Inc. and Positive Legacy in support of the New Orleans homeless community.

The Zony Mash Beer Project is located at 3940 Thalia Street, with parking at 3943 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. For tickets to all shows, click here.