Get ready for another week of live music and cultural events in New Orleans. As usual, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out this week’s OffBeat Weekly Picks:
Raphael Bas, photo courtesy of the artist
Guitarist and harmonica player Raphaël Bas performs at Bacchanal (600 Poland Avenue) on Thursday, September 7, at 6 p.m. Bas combines French gypsy swing and traditional New Orleans jazz. Originally hailing from Bourges, France, where he started performing internationally at age 15, Raphaël now resides in New Orleans, where he pursues his musical career as a solo artist and with his band, Harmonouche. Influenced by renowned musicians like Django Reinhardt, Manitas De Plata and Paco De Lucia, Raphaël’s performances feature intricate guitar work that diverges from conventional approaches encompassing blues, flamenco, funk, reggae and jazz. Fans of OffBeat may remember Raphaël from our April issue last year where he discussed his musical journey. To learn more about this free event, or Raphael’s other upcoming shows at Bacchanal, click here.
Ms. Charm Taylor. Photo by Jose Cotto.
On Friday, September 8, the Sixth Annual Music for Mental Health Benefit Concert, presented by the Brett Thomas Doussan (BTD) Foundation, will take place at the Siberia Lounge (2227 St. Claude) at 7:30 p.m. The BTD Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness about mental health through performances by local artists, including Charm Taylor, who sat down with OffBeat Magazine in 2017 Marc Paradis, from Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Mikayla Braun, and SaxKixAve. These musicians will share personal experiences with mental health through music and storytelling. Hosted by Mental Health Benefit Concert founder Kathryn Rose Wood, the event is open to those aged 21+, with a minimum donation of $10.00 at the door. Proceeds from the concert will support Louisiana-based mental health organizations, including NAMI New Orleans, AFSP Louisiana, the New Orleans Musician’s Clinic, and Children’s Hospital, as it addresses critical mental health needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and alarming suicide rates in the region. For more information on this Weekly Pick, visit the official Brett Thomas Doussan Foundation website.
Little Freddie King, photo by Stephen Maloney
Delta blues musician Little Freddie King performs on Friday, September 8, at 9:30 p.m. at BJ’s Lounge (4301 Burgundy). This performance follows Freddie’s recent birthday celebration at the lounge earlier this summer and his recognition as the 2022 Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. King’s musical journey began with learning the guitar from his father in McComb, Mississippi, before moving to New Orleans in 1954. Over the years, he’s performed alongside a myriad of other musicians, showcasing his acoustic and electric guitar talent. King’s historical contributions include recording New Orleans’ first electric blues album with Harmonica Williams in 1969 and embarking on a European tour with Bo Diddley and John Lee Hooker in 1976. He is a charter member of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and has played at the festival for several years. King is also a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and received multiple recognition as Blues Performer of the Year in New Orleans. Check out BJ’s official Facebook page to learn more about Freddie’s upcoming show.
Sierra Green. Photo by Xiomara Blanco
Sierra Green and the Soul Machine take the stage for their regular performance on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, at 10 p.m. at Cafe Negril (606 Frenchmen). Green’s vocals are often compared to classic soul vocalists like Aretha Franklin and Irma Thomas while incorporating elements of contemporary soul revival acts such as Leon Bridges, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. The band performs regularly in their hometown, drawing audiences from various parts of the world. Green, who hails from New Orleans, is recognized not only for her vocal abilities, but for her stage presence and hardworking approach. It’s worth noting that Sierra Green and the Soul Machine were previously honored with OffBeat Magazine‘s Best Emerging Artist award. Learn more about their performance at Cafe Negril on the specified dates and times by clicking here.
Betty Shirley. Source: Facebook
Accomplished jazz vocalist Betty Shirley performs with her band on Saturday, September 9, at 9 p.m. at Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar (5535 Tchoupitoulas St). Shirley’s journey has been noted by many as paralleling that of Billie Holiday, not only in her finely-tuned voice but also in her ability to overcome challenges. Hailing from rural Mississippi, she made her way from Chicago to New York before settling in New Orleans. Shirley has graced the stage at Jazz Fest on several occasions and has performed with with some of the best jazz musicians in the world: Ellis Marsalis, Art Blakey Jr., Benny Green and Bross Townsend, to name a few. Her credits include the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Pensacola Jazz Festival, Essence Fest and the Women in Jazz Series. Don’t miss her performance at Dos Jefes on the previously mentioned date and time. To learn more about the event, click here.
The Rob Wagner Trio is slated to play on Sunday, September 10, with shows at 8 and 10 p.m. at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (626 Frenchmen St). The versatile multi-
Rob Wagner. Photo: New Orleans Jazz Museum
instrumentalist Wagner spent much of his career in New Orleans during the 1990s and early 2000s, leaving a memorable mark on the Frenchmen Street music scene. His musical range spans from funk to klezmer to modal/free jazz. After relocating to New York City following Hurricane Katrina, he maintained his ties to the Crescent City, collaborating with various groups and performing frequently in New Orleans. The trio for the upcoming show and Snug Harbor, featuring James Singleton on bass and Johnny Vidacovich on drums, aims to provide an evening of saxophone and clarinet-led compositions marked by Wagner’s nuanced approach to dynamics and pitch. To learn more or purchase tickets to either performance, please visit the official Snug Harbor website.
