CHELLE! And Friends My Darling New Orleans Mardi Gras Show
$ $20/Advance, $25/Day of Show
8:00 pm
Saturday, February 23, 2019

BUY TICKETS

Ask 20 people how to define the music of New Orleans and you’ll get 30 different answers. It could be jazz, funk, soul, Creole, Cajun, or gospel, Caribbean, African, Zydeco, rock or the chants and stirring rhythms of the Mardi Gras Indians.

Join CHELLE! And Friends on a magical soul shakin’ tour of the music and history of African Americans in NOLA as Rhythmix Cultural Works presents My Darling New Orleans: A Mardi Gras Show with CHELLE! And Friends. From Blues to the Mardi Gras Indians, CHELLE! And Friends delivers a stewpot of musical gumbo that is sweet, spicy, aromatic and definitely intoxicating.

CHELLE! and Friends is made up of some of the most distinguished and accomplished musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area, including New Orleans native, and Oakland’s own “Queen of New Orleans Music”, Michelle Jacques. As artistic director and founder, Chelle brings together some very special friends to perform music that is vibrant and alive with the driving voices of Rhonda Crane, Jay Lamont and Bryan Dyer, Donna Viscuso on woodwinds, Eric Swinerman on guitar, Kevin Scott on bass and Michaelle Goerlitz on drums.

Although the repertoire includes gospel, folk, blues, and pop songs from around the country, New Orleans music in its many varieties – jazz, R&B, swamp pop, and Mardi Gras Indian music, among them – has been the group’s focus since its inception in early 2005. Preserving those sounds became an even more urgent mission after Hurricane Katrina stuck the Crescent City later that year. This musically rich performance transcends ethnic boundaries, uplifts, brings news, protests, motivates and honors our richness and diversity.

“Whether leading a children’s Mardi Gras parade or headlining the “Queens of New Orleans” Music Festival, CHELLE! & Friends’ blend of music delights audiences of all ages.” Linda Lucero, Executive/Artistic Director-Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

“Chelle has put together a dream team of accomplished performers. This group completely rocks!” Russ Jennings, Common Soul Productions

Doors open at 7pm. Please come hungry! Snacks, drinks and delicious homemade arepas from Miss Arepita available for purchase before the show!