|
| |
| |
one of the premier harmonica players in the country
Rockin' Jake has been hailed by many as one of the premier
harmonica players in the country. His original sound is a hybrid of second
line, swamp funk, blues and zydeco with influences from Paul Butterfield,
Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, The Meters,WAR, J. Geils Band, Clifton
Chenier, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Jake has conjured up this formula
that is blowing crowds away from coast to coast. Widely known as a touring
juggernaut among his peers, his schedule of over 200 performances per
year include clubs, concert venues, and festivals.
Based out of New Orleans since 1990, Rockin' Jake relocated since being
flooded out by Hurricane Katrina, then settled in St. Louis and now
lives in Southern Florida.Originally from the East Coast, the "blues bug" bit
at an early age for Jake.
He immersed himself in the thriving regional
blues scene, which boasted such talents as Roomful of Blues, Ronnie
Earl, Duke Robillard and Sugar Ray. Primarily self-taught, Jake briefly
studied with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters.
|
|
The Move Fom New Orleans and Forming The Band
In 1990, when Jake moved to New Orleans where he began
to work with such notable New Orleans mainstays as: blues diva Marva Wright,
Mem Shannon, Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, Tommy Ridgley, Eddie Bo
and other local legends. During this time Jake also toured nationally with
G. Love & Special
Sauce, blues and pop legend Maria Muldaur as well as logging international
miles with bluesman T.J, Wheeler. He was selected to perform in an all-star
band featuring blues legends Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin at the Howlin'
Wolf.
 |
In 1995 he formed the Rockin' Jake Band
as an outlet for his original music and his unique swampy sounds. One
year later Jake recorded his debut CD, "Let's Go Get 'Em" (on Rabadash Records)
which earned him national recognition. In 1999 Jake produced "Badmouth",
on Zuluzu records followed by "Full-Time Work" in 2002 on the same label.
It included an all-star cast of musicians such as John Gros (Papa Grows
Funk), Ron Johnson (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe), Bryan Stoltz (the funky
Meters), Ben Ellman and Theryl "Houseman" de Clouet (Galactic).
In the
spring of 2004 he recorded his band's first live cd. Over four days
in Key West, Florida at the Green Parrot, he and his band recorded
5 p.m. Breakfast on Zuluzu records. Jake's work has also been heard
on the soundtrack of "The Big Easy" television series, the theme for the "Mike Ditka
Show, " and a Miller Beer commercial. In 2010, Rockin' Jake became an
official BBQ judge for the Kansas City Barbque Society! |
He is a five-time winner of Off Beat Magazine's coveted Best of the Beat
award for best harmonica player. Jake is truly a hard working musician with
extraordinary talent. He and his band pour out their souls in every performance
with high energy and electricity which consistently brings the audience to
their feet. In his spare time Jake managed to snare some culinary kudos in
New Orleans, taking the trophy for "Best Barbequed Brisket" at the 1999 New
Orleans Musicians Barbeque Competition, and launching his own line of signature
hot sauce: "Badmouth" (the
edible version)..."man it's hot!"...just like the band! Jake also takes time
to give back to his New Orleans community with Project Prodigy Music Camp
for children as well as the Blues in the Schools programs in New Orleans
and other cities in the US.
More info on Rockin Jake can be found at rockinjake.com
Don't miss the Rockin Jake band appearing at the Crawdebauchery Festival
in March...Check it out here www.CrawDebauchery.com
|
|
|
