Due to the large crowds he has been drawing after the first two weeks, the keyboardist/ vocalist and his all-star New Orleans band have committed to playing the mid city club until the end of the year.
The 32-year old Washington, D.C. native has found a home in the intimate setting of Chickie Wah Wah. Since moving to New Orleans, he has been searching for the right space to present his new musical direction. “I love the fact that people sit and listen to the slow songs and get up and dance when the music moves them,” Hall said.
The members of his handpicked group are household names to New Orleans music lovers—guitarist Derwin “Big D” Perkins (Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen), drummer Raymond Weber (Dumpstaphunk), and bassist Eric Vogel (Big Sam’s Funky Nation).
Nigel Hall is renowned in New Orleans as a member of Lettuce and Dr. Claw and for his creative contributions to Soulive—three bands known for playing marathon late night shows during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He has also toured with Warren Haynes and John Scofield.
More recently, Hall channeled the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, as the frontman for the Big Payback Band. The all-star collective was the house band at Tipitina’s for WWOZ DJ Soul Sister’s annual birthday jam in September.
With his new band and a weekly gig, Hall is exploring the many sides of his musical personality. Though he is best known as a funky keyboardist and soulful vocalist he is also a song stylist strongly influenced by artists like George Duke and Donny Hathaway.
