Saturday, July 19, The St. Jude Community Center will hold its 4th annual Sounds of New Orleans Benefit Concert. The Community Center houses working homeless women and volunteers rebuilding the city, serves breakfast and lunch on weekdays, distributes food for Second Harvest Food Bank, and collaborates with Responsibility House in serving addicts. Last year the event raised over $50,000, and so far the center has utilized more than half of the funds to pay its insurance ($21,00) and fund salaries.
The concert doesn’t just have a great cause though. It has a great line-up too! Local greats Paul Sanchez, John Boutte and Shamarr Allen; Broadway star Michael Cerveris, singer and June OffBeat magazine cover Erica Falls, and the legendary Allen Toussaint will all grace the stage at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.
We chatted with Shamarr Allen, who was recently named a cultural ambassador for the State Department, to talk about the upcoming gig and his connection to it.
“I’m super excited to play the Mahalia Jackson,” the trumpeter said, “because, although I’ve seen tons of shows there over the years, the last one being Robert Plant, I have yet to play the new one. Uncle Paul, John, and Michael are family. I always enjoy performing with them. But my favorite people to share the stage with on this night are my students. I’ve watched them grow from little scary kids to super performers. Its going down! Be prepared to see the future of New Orleans music.”
Allen is also no stranger to performing for a cause. “On my tour with the State Department, most of the places (in Central Asia) we were playing were places where they live way below the poverty line. But despite this, the countries were great and so were the people. The experience was life changing. I learned a lot from them about their country and they learned a lot from me.”
“When we first got there our guide let me know that I wouldn’t be able to get these people dancing. No one has ever done it. So we made a bet, I love challenges and to me that was a challenge. Once we started with that music, it was on and popping! Everyone was on their feet having a good time. It was great to make people feel good and win a bet at the same time. New Orleans music does that to people. No matter what part of the world you’re in.”
Shamarr will be performing songs from his latest album 504-799-8147, which yes, is his actual number. This is a fact some of us at TVD have always found pretty astounding and we took the opportunity to ask Allen if he ever gets any strange calls.
“I always wanted my fans to have direct access to me and the only way to do that is to give them my phone number. I always have my phone and if I don’t answer I call or text back when I get the chance. I will never give up this phone number! I will always have it. The phone is pretty entertaining to be honest,” he said laughing. “I get funny messages, pictures I’ll never be able to show and a whole bunch of other stuff. That phone is trouble, but fun!”
Tickets to see Shamarr Allen share the stage with his students and a bunch of other New Orleans greats at the Jude-SONO Benefit Concert are available at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Gift Shop at 911 N. Rampart Street from 9 AM-5 PM -Saturday (504-525-1551).
Get them ahead of time because the box office at the Mahalia Jackson Theater will not sell tickets once the show begins at 7 PM (they will be selling tickets at the Mahalia Jackson box office the day of the event ONLY, prior to the 19th you must buy them at Our Lady of Guadalupe). FYI, The Mahalia Jackson also charges a $15 parking fee.
