On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you'll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line, known as "the rumble". Featuring six Grammy-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band—it's an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture. Composed of Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O’Neal, the group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers—but updated, modern and vibrant befitting the next generation—with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.    Their live show is a symphony of rich color and propulsive sound, with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian-style call-and-response chanting. The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles, both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux’s father, Monk Boudreaux. The Rumble continues the fight to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community for the next generation while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance. The Rumble provides audiences with not only a top-tier musical event, but a chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture-bearers.

Jon Cleary’s love and affinity for New Orleans music goes back to the rural British village of Cranbrook, Kent, where he was raised in a musical family.  Cleary’s maternal grandparents performed in London in the 1940s, under the respective stage names Sweet Dolly Daydream and Frank Neville, The Little Fellow With The Educated Feet  – she as a singer, and he as a crooner and tap dancer.   As a teen Cleary grew increasingly interested in funk-infused music and discovered that three such songs that he particularly admired – LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” Robert Palmer’s version of “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley,” and Frankie Miller’s rendition of “Brickyard Blues”  – were attributed to Allen Toussaint as either the songwriter, the producer, or both. Cleary’s knowledge of Toussaint’s work expanded significantly when his uncle returned home to the U.K., after a two-year sojourn in New Orleans, with a copy of a Toussaint LP and two suitcases full of New Orleans R&B 45s. In 1981 Cleary flew to New Orleans for an initial pilgrimage and took a cab straight from the airport to the Maple Leaf Bar, a storied venue which then featured such great blues-rooted eclectic pianists as Roosevelt Sykes and James Booker.  Cleary first worked at the Maple Leaf as a painter, but soon graduated to playing piano there – even though his first instrument was the guitar, which he still plays and has recently reintroduced into his live performances.  As word of Cleary’s burgeoning talent began to spread around town, he was hired by such New Orleans R&B legends as Snooks Eaglin, Earl “Trick Bag” King, Johnny Adams, and Jessie “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” Hill, while also gaining the respect of the great Crescent City pianists Dr. John and the late Allen Toussaint. Years later, in 2012, Cleary recorded a critically acclaimed album of all-Toussaint songs entitled Occapella. Today, Cleary’s work pays obvious homage to the classic Crescent City keyboard repertoire created by such icons as Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Dr. John, and James Booker – while also using it as a launching pad for a style that incorporates such other diverse influences as ’70s soul and R&B, gospel music, funk, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Cuban rhythms, and much more. Deciding to stay in New Orleans, Cleary recorded his first album of nine, to date, in 1989.  His ever-elevating profile led to global touring work in the bands of Taj Mahal, John Scofield, Dr. John, and Bonnie Raitt.  Cleary has led his own group, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, for over two decades now, but he still collaborates frequently with these old friends.  At the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, for instance, Cleary performed alongside Raitt in a heartfelt tribute to Fats Domino.

Zahria Sims is a young saxophonist, composer, recording artist and bandleader who discovered her love for music at an early age. Zahria’s love for music and songwriting is a reflection of her upbringing; both her parents are musicians well versed in the gospel genre. Zahria is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and she is now based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has immersed herself in the rich culture and musical heritage of the city and is excited about the future of its musical climate and how she will take part in that story. Zahria graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Music Industries. At Loyola, she participated in the Jazz Band, Contemporary Ensemble, and Concert Band. She has performed at major events and festivals such as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the National Fried Chicken Festival, Gentilly Fest and performs a weekly residency at the Jazz Playhouse with a local band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation. Zahria founded The Zahria Sims Collective in 2019, an ensemble that focuses on Black American Music, which incorporates aspects traditionally associated with Jazz, Funk, Soul, and R&B. They play regularly in the Greater New Orleans area and are preparing to release their debut album. Sims leads her band while recording and performing with various bands as a freelance saxophonist throughout New Orleans and surrounding areas. Zahria has opened up for artists such as Kenny Garrett, Arturo Sandaval, and has performed and been mentored by artists like Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson, and Emmy and Grammy award-winner Michael Esneault and performed with the likes of Matt Wilson, Camille Thurman, Tia Fuller, Quiana Lynell and many more. Zahria was selected and performed as a member of the 2020 JEN Conference “Sisters in Jazz” Collegiate Combo, under the leadership of Tia Fuller. Sims recently completed a 10-day tour in Israel which she considered an impromptu blessing and an opportunity of lifetime. Sims serves as an assistant instructor at the Birch Creek Performing Arts Center in Door County, Wisconsin for their Jazz Summer Workshop. As an artist, performer, composer, educator, and band leader, Zahria is fulfilling her dream and purpose spreading joy, love, and peace through music.