Following his highly successful Ella Fitzgerald Tribute in January, producer and musician Graham Hawthorne returns to the stage of Chickie Wah Wah with a celebration of the life of the one and only funk and soul superstar, Prince.
The High Standards Orchestra will perform the music for this special show. Originally conceived, organized, and led by Hawthorne as the Harlem Speakeasy Orchestra, the band became an underground sensation in New York City by bringing the great American songbook to life in a fresh and exciting way. Hawthorne is now a resident of New Orleans.
For this show, Hawthorne will present the music of Prince in a unique way using big band arrangements. Expect to hear many of his hits as well as other tunes inspired by the legendary musician.
The cast of musicians and vocalists involved in this production include familiar faces from New Orleans and some talent out of New York. Expect to hear the male singer Gio, female singer Quiana Lynell, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom, pianist Shea Pierre, guitarist Matt Galloway, bassist Elmo Price, saxophonist Alex Geddes, and trombonist Peter Gustafson.
Graham Hawthorne is one of the most highly regarded drummers in the music world. Formerly based in New York City, Hawthorne recently relocated to New Orleans. He has appeared live and in the studio with a long list of major artists including Paul Simon, David Byrne, Ron Carter, and Randy Brecker. Known for his funky soulful groove, Hawthorne is also a sought after studio musician, producer and arranger.
