The New Orleans Suspects are an exceptionally talented group of renowned musicians from the Crescent City. Each has had a great career prior to joining the band and it was terrific seeing them perform together at Steamhouse Lounge Oysterfest on 2-24-18. The 1 1/2 hour set was replete with original tunes as well as some classic covers. The weather was perfect at 70 degrees in mid-February and the crowd was pumped.
The band is comprised of (from their website):
Reggie Scanlan was on bass for this gig! Reggie Scanlan, is the long time bass player with The Radiators and founded the New Orleans Suspects. He announced his official retirement in 2016 but we were fortunate to have him with us for this show. Reggie founded the Suspects in 2011 but backed away from road gigs following his retirement
“Mean” Willie Green was the drummer for the Neville Brothers for over thirty years. His unparalleled style has helped shape New Orleans funk, and his drumming has graced recorded tracks by dozens of artists, including The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Edie Brickell.
Jake Eckert was the longtime lead guitarist in the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Traveling the world, he has performed everywhere from Palace Square in Russia to 2009 Grammy Awards ceremony. He has other talents as well, receiving a Grammy Award in 2011 for recording engineer and producing albums for John Mooney, Cedric Burnside, and New Orleans Suspects, among others.
CR Gruver is a classically trained pianist who immersed himself in New Orleans piano styles after touring with national bands such as Outformation and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Adept at James Booker-style piano and the swelling B-3 stylings of Art Neville, Gruver has also become a well-regarded sideman for Leo Nocentelli of The Meters.
Jeff Watkins is an accomplished sax player, engineer and producer. He spent twelve years leading the James Brown Band, including Brown’s induction into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. He also worked for six years with Joss Stone as her producer, engineer, and bandleader.
FunkCity.net was fortunate to capture the set in its entirety which you can watch here –