You recently performed on Dr. John’s version of Randy Newman’s “Down in New Orleans.” The song was featured in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and was nominated for an Oscar. Can you tell us a little about that project.
It is funny. I was on tour and we were somewhere in Colorado. I got a bunch of text messages from people saying, “We are watching you on TV at the Oscars.” I replied, “I’m asleep, I’m not there” but they showed a video that I am in which is great. I have to give all thanks to Dr. John, a good friend of mine. He called me to be on the session, and I did it with him. He’s the one who’s responsible for putting it all together, Dr. John. It was done in New Orleans at the Music Shed. It was during Jazz Fest last year. And Doc called me up and I went down there and we did it. I remember watching a cartoon screen, and it was my first time experiencing watching the cartoon character playing the trombone, and I tried to match what he was doing which was really fun and really cool. It was just like the black and white sheets of pages moving on the screen. I actually forgot what the session was for until it came out and then it all clicked.
Though you have collaborated with numerous musicians, the most high profile are probably U2 and Green Day. You played with them at the opening of the Super Dome after Katrina and recorded a benefit single with members of both groups in the studio. But Bono had been a longtime fan of your music, correct?
I think Edge and Bono saw me play when I was 12. They came to a little club down in Treme, and I was able to jump in and play a little bit. And they were dancing and different things. That’s what they remember. And a good friend of mine, Bob Ezrin , he was the one who anchored the whole thing for me to be able to play and meet with U2 and Green Day, both of whom are big fans of New Orleans music. [Pink Floyd/KISS] producer Bob Ezrin put it together. I was actually in London doing a tour with my band in England, all over and last day I was able to go to Abbey Road studio and sit down with Green Day, Bob Ezrin, U2 and Rick Rubin. And we were all sitting down at the table and I was like ‘Whoa, we are at Abbey Road Studio and people are outside like snapping pictures.” We all talked about the whole thing, the grand reopening of the Super Dome and we talked a little bit, discussed it and next thing you know I got home, they called me and said it was a go. And we were able to get some other New Orleans musicians on it such as the Rebirth Brass Band, the New Birth Brass Band, and we were able to play and reopen the Super Dome. We were able to do it with two of the biggest bands in the world right now.
How did you first meet Bob Ezrin?
He comes down to Jazz Fest and different things and he is the one who put it together. I forgot how we met but he put it together. I talk to him every couple of weeks. We check in on each other but he’s the one who put it together. I think he was hanging out at the jazz festival with Quint Davis, and we just clicked and we’ve been talking ever since. And he checks in on me, keeps up with what I’m doing, give me some pointers and different things. He’s the one who put it all together. I can’t even remember how we met, you know, it’s one of those things.
No Comments comments associated with this post