Spotlight: Papa Grows Funk

Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com

Webpage: http://www.papagrowsfunk.com
Location: New Orleans, LA, USA
Description: Papa Grows Funk embodies the soul of New Orleans—fun, funky, unpredictable and energetic.
Biography: “One of THE best and most important funky bands in New Orleans. We couldn’t be prouder.” Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Booty shaking party music best sums up the inimitable Papa Grows Funk, one of the most successful funk bands to emanate from New Orleans. Rooted in improvisation, the group of all-star musicians led by Hammond B3 keyboardist and lead vocalist, John Gros, has built its enthusiastic vibe on a long-standing musical tradition that dates back to the hot jazz of the legends, Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong. Like Dr. John and the Neville Brothers, Papa Grows Funk keeps that New Orleans lineage alive while always funkifying towards the future. Papa Grows Funk has fused the individual talents of its members into one unique sound, but still retains the first spark they ignited in the beginning while jamming together at the Old Point Bar. “While we throw in New Orleans classics, now our songs and our groove are all our own,” says John Gros. “We still love playing together and that comes through in our music.” The band plays over 100 shows a year for its international and growing fan base. From the Highline Ballroom in New York City to the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, from the Nancy Jazz Festival in France to the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, Papa Grows Funk has brought their “Mardi Gras in a bottle” music to iconic clubs from coast to coast and renowned festivals worldwide. With no play lists and no rehearsals every Papa Grows Funk performance is its own masterpiece of funk. On any given night, the band might change songs or grooves. But one thing is certain: whether it is jam band college kids or seersucker wearing professionals, five folks or 100,000, after John Gros announces “We’re Papa Grows Funk from the great city of New Orleans,” the crowd is going to go wild. ****************************** Papa Grows Funk John Gros – Hammond B3 organ and lead vocals June Yamagishi- Guitar, backing vocals Marc Pero – Bass Jason Mingledorff – Saxophones, backing vocals Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander – Drums, backing vocals
Press Release:   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   RELEASE NEEDLE IN THE GROOVE ON MARCH 27th ON FUNKY KREWE RECORDS     PRODUCED BY TOM DRUMMOND OF BETTER THAN EZRA AND THE LEGENDARY ALLEN TOUSSAINT “One of THE best and most important funky bands in New Orleans. We couldn't be prouder." - Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival     New York, NY (January 11, 2012) - Booty shaking party music best sums up the inimitable Papa Grows Funk, one of the most successful funk bands to emanate from New Orleans. The group of all-star musicians teamed up with the legendary Allen Toussaint and fellow ‘who dat’ Tom Drummond of Better Than Ezra to co-produce their new album of  “Mardi Gras in a bottle” and PGF release Needle In The Groove on March 27 on Funky Krewe Records.   Rooted in improvisation and led by Hammond B3 keyboardist and lead vocalist, John Gros, Papa Grows Funk has built its enthusiastic vibe on a long-standing musical tradition that dates back to the hot jazz of the legends, Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong.  Like Dr. John and the Neville Brothers, Papa Grows Funk keeps that New Orleans lineage alive while always funkifying towards the future.   Papa Grows Funk has fused the individual talents of its members into one unique sound, but still retains the initial spark they ignited in the beginning while jamming together at the Old Point Bar. “While we throw in New Orleans classics, now our songs and our groove are all our own,” says John Gros. “We still love playing together and that comes through in our music.”   Playing over 100 shows a year, Papa Grows Funk will do what they do best and hit the road this month in support of the upcoming release with more dates being added.  For the 12th consecutive year, Papa Grows Funk will perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday, April 28, 2012 on the Gentilly Stage.  Hitting venues across the world – from the Highline in New York to the Fuji Rock Festivan in Japan – Papa Grows Funk has brought their music to clubs from coast to coast and festivals worldwide.   With no play lists and no rehearsals every Papa Grows Funk performance is its own masterpiece of funk. On any given night, the band might change songs or grooves. But one thing is certain: whether it is jam band college kids or seersucker wearing professionals, five folks or 100,000, after John Gros announces “We’re Papa Grows Funk from the great city of New Orleans,” the crowd is going to go wild.     PAPA GROWS FUNK TOUR DATES Fri, Feb 10 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s Uptown Fri, Mar 9 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent Sat, Mar 10 – Crystal Bay, NV – The Crystal Club Sat, Mar 17 – New Orleans, LA – The Howlin’ Wolf Fri, Apr 13 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Sat, Apr 14 – Houston, TX – Last Concert Café’s Spring Fandango Sat, Apr 28 – New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival May 20 – May 27 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Smooth Jazz Funk Cruise 2012   http://www.papagrowsfunk.com http://www.facebook.com/papagrowsfunk http://www.myspace.com/papagrowsfunk http://www.twitter.com/papagrowsfunk   Papa Grows Funk is: John Gros - Hammond B3 organ and lead vocals June Yamagishi- Guitar Marc Pero - Bass Jason Mingledorff - Sax Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander – Drums     For more information, please contact: Jeff Kilgour / Catie Monck Tijuana Gift Shop 917.678.4420 / 646.285.1902 jeff@tijuanagiftshop.net / catie@tijuanagiftshop.net   # # #

Simply Six: Megan Blue

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you? 

 

When I was five, I was obsessed with the theme song from 'Flash Dance'.  I remember twirling around on the orange shag carpet with my fisher-price plastic microphone.  I was hooked pretty early!  

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of

your favorites? I love funky music.  The New Orleans music scene is so inspiring to me!  I especially love Jon Cleary and Papa Grows Funk.  I also love the greats- Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Susan Tedeschi.  Anything that's got a lot of soul to it, and that makes you want to dance.

 

 

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?  Oh, I have to pick one?  Singing at Jazzfest in 2001 was pretty amazing.  We just did a tour for Sundance Film Festival, and we had an amazing gig up in Park City- brought the house down.  That was incredible!  Any time I can connect with the audience and take them away from their daily grind and into a different world- that is my greatest achievement as an artist.

 

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?  I ABSOLUTELY believe music can and has changed the world.  Artists that have a voice have an incredible platform and influence- Just look at some of the greats- John Lennon, Michael Franti, Ben Harper.  There are artists out there that have gotten me to think about how I can make the world a better place- and I love to be a part of that kind of music.   Music and Art are always intertwined with current events- Political songs have been making us aware and creating revolutions for hundreds of years.  'I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down...'

 

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician?  Technology is a double-edged sword.  The worst of it is, people just don't want to pay for recorded music any more.  They want to burn it from a friend, get it for free off the internet.  That effects all musicians who are trying to make a living off of album sales.  Now it has to be about live shows, which is o.k., except I think that if you start thinking you don't need to pay for the album, why pay to see it live, when I can just watch it on Youtube?  The good thing about it is that you can reach a much wider audience through all of these social mediums we have now.  How has this effected me?  Simple math-  Because record labels are dying out, they don't have the funds to support their talent.  They don't have funds to send out talent scouts and agents in search of new talent.  This means that the ARTIST is now in charge of seeking out labels and agents, not vice versa, and now we are also expected to be promoters in addition to everything else.  You have to be incredibly tenacious, incredibly driven, and incredibly stubborn to make it happen.  Luckily I am all of those things.  In addition to that, you have to believe in yourself, and you have to believe that you have something that HAS to be heard.  

 

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?

Vintage blue leather cowboy boots-  because blue is my signature color, my last name, and the name of my band, and because cowboy boots can be worn anywhere with anything- dresses, jeans, ball gowns.  And they look great on stage!

I also do a column called POV where you can basically write about anything you want.  I've had everything from the Occupy Wall Street to ghosts to music talked about.  So if you'd like to do that that would be cool.   Do you have any videos I could post, I only found one on youtube....just thinking it would help let people see and hear you.