Keeping the holiday spirit of giving back firmly into the new year, Nikki Glaspie put together a memorable show on January 8 at The Mint in Los Angeles. Billed as the “Peace Love and Funk Benefit Concert,” Glaspie and friends banded together to help raise funds for the Harold Robinson Foundation (HRF).
The nonprofit organization, founded in 2008, provides day camp retreats for at-risk youth from South Los Angeles and other L.A. areas who would not have the economic means to otherwise attend. The foundation is also developing the Watts Conservatory of Music, offering free music lessons to anyone living in the zip code of Watts, an inner-city Los Angeles community. Both Norwood Fisher from Fishbone and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers are active with the foundation and the conservatory and Glaspie is an Advisory Board member of the HRF.
Glaspie, who's a founding member and drummer for The Nth Power, has been leading a once-a-month residency jam session at The Mint that kicked off in September 2018. Her “Nikki Glaspie & The Homies” shows have brought together a who’s who of talent that has pumped out soul, funk and classic jams for adoring fans.
For the benefit show, Glaspie enlisted Nick Cassarino and Nate Edgar, two of her Nth Power bandmates, as well as keyboardist and vocalist Ivan Neville (her former bandmate from Dumpstaphunk) to join in the fundraising. Several musicians that have participated in Homies shows at The Mint over the past four months also performed. Drin Elliot on keys, Juan Ariza on guitar, Ty Coombs on percussion, Kudison Kai (Elton John) on vocals, Enrique Sanchez (Meghan Trainor) on trumpet, Pete Ortega (Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah) on tenor saxophone and Rashawn Ross on trumpet (Dave Matthews Band) all played with the band.
Foundation President David Moss explained how HRF has gotten so many professional musicians involved in the cause.
“Music is one of my personal passions. I have been involved with music and I have a lot of musician friends that I have acquired over the years due to my passion in music. Why not bring something as beautiful as music into the message and the mission? What brings people together more than music? Nothing. It doesn't matter what color you are, it doesn't matter what language you speak, or what country you live in. Everyone can groove to a beat. It breaks down barriers and it builds relationships and it creates bonds and I'm just stoked to have musicians want to jump on and be a part of this vision.”
The Mint was packed and buzzing with anticipation as Moss welcomed the supportive crowd that included a strong music and entertainment industry presence. Norwood Fisher, Eric McFadden, Lettuce’s Eric Coombs and actor/singer Craig Robinson were in the audience, along with several of Glaspie’s Homies. Comedian Ben Gleib acted as host and did a bit of standup before the music began.
The two-set performance had a similar vibe to the Nikki and The Homies shows. However, with Glaspie’s Nth Power bandmates and Ivan Neville in the house, there was added cachet. Nick Cassarino handled lead vocals on covers of Earth Wind & Fire’s “Remember the Children” and Bobby Womack’s “Across 110th Street.” Rashawn Ross joined the horn section and played a great solo during a cover of The Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around.” He stayed for most of the show.
Glaspie, Cassarino and Neville shared vocals on The Isley Brothers' “Caravan of Love.” Neville took over lead vocals for excellent versions of The Rolling Stones' classic “Miss You” as well as The Meters’ “It Ain’t No Use” and “No More Okey Doke.” Glaspie was the primary vocalist on Chaka Khan’s “We Got Each Other,” but Cassarino and Neville contributed excellent harmonies. The band covered two more Earth Wind & Fire classics. Glaspie introduced “Shining Star” as the Harold Robinson Foundation’s theme song. For “That’s the Way of the World,” every band member took an impressive solo.
Both the first and second sets ended with Nth Power originals. For the first set closer, Cassarino said that he was so moved by his first experience at one of the HRF camps that while he was still there, he began writing “I Will Never Leave You.” The Nth Power played the soul ballad as a trio and Cassarino played a scorching guitar solo at the end of the song.
All of the band members stayed on stage for the finale. Glaspie introduced “Only Love” as the Nth Power’s anthem and the band proceeded to play it with intensity and passion. The night of peace, love, funk and songs filled with important messages about charity and the importance of taking care of our children came to an end. The crowd cheered wildly at the end of the song and knew they had experienced a special night of great music, good vibes and supported an important cause.
We chatted with both Nikki Glaspie and Ivan Neville before the show:
Nikki, how did you get involved with Harold Robinson Foundation?
I got involved with HRF through Angela [Failla, the HRF Program Director]. She used to work for Dumpstaphunk. She had been telling me about this camp that she was working at for a while and her boss David Moss, he had come to New Orleans a couple times, and was like "Yo man, I really want you to check out my foundation. I work with Fishbone." They do a lot of stuff there with Norwood and Fish. They started a Watts Conservatory of Music which is kind of like a separate thing. The way we [Nth Power] got involved was they threw a party and we did Earth Wind & Power at the party.
Was that in New Orleans?
No, it was here, in L.A. at The Regent [the beautifully restored downtown Los Angeles music venue] and this was like two years ago. The next day they had a retreat. So, the Nth Power went to the camp. And we all cried our eyes out for like four hours and we decided to do a free choice. They do a rotation; they do a couple of different activities – writing, basketball or art, whatever. We did a music free choice, because they had instruments there. So, we set up and the Nth Power played for the kids and it was insane, it was life changing.
I've been back to that particular camp, it's called Camp Felix and it’s for foster youth specifically and they do that every December. It's like the third week in December. So, this was my third year going to the camp. It's pretty much how we got involved. And then we started playing at Pedal on the Pier [another HRF fund-raising event on the Santa Monica Pier] and trying to raise money for the foundation because we went there and fell in love.
What is your role with the Advisory Board?
My job is to spread the word; to get people involved. That is my sole responsibility being on the Advisory Board, is bringing people into the fold. Since I have been there, a bunch of my friends have gone up to camp and taught music to the kids. One of my old teachers, Kudison Kai, she did a vocal workshop with them which I heard was really amazing because everybody has a voice. And for [the kids], they don't get to express themselves or use their voice. So, it was really important for them to understand that they have a voice and that they can use it. We have been trying to implement more music since I have been involved. I have had friends go up and teach. I've taken the band up to the camp.
Just this past December The Homies went up there because we played the next day [at The Mint]. The day before, we had rehearsal and then we drove up to camp and played for them, which was pretty awesome because a lot of them have never seen music before. They have never even seen a band and it's really amazing to see them see it for the first time. Can you imagine? I don’t know if you remember your first show. I remember mine. Mine was, I was very fortunate. It was B. B. King. That was my first concert. B. B. King, Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi. It was when I was 15. It's crazy. That's basically how I got involved. I have been around ever since doing different retreats.
What they do is they take kids from the ghetto and bring them up to camp and they disguise peace and love and all different activities and it's pretty awesome to see. They get kids from rival gangs from different neighborhoods which is really intense. Because depending on where you are from and your territory, you get shot. But there is no other instance where these people would be in the same place together. So, it is pretty intense when they have rival gangs and they see eye to eye. Why are we fighting? Why are we trying to kill each other? It doesn't make sense, over territory. They are doing a lot in the hood out here and it is pretty amazing.
How did tonight's gig come together?
Basically, it's kind of funny. I started The Homies here in September. Angela was like "it would be cool if we could do something like this for HRF." And I'm like “of course.” The band, Nth Power, has already done it a couple of times in different iterations. It was real easy to call some of the cats that have been doing the gigs with The Homies and put it together. They wanted Ivan; some star power.
He seems to like this place a little. [Neville has recently played at The Mint with Dumpstaphunk and with Dragon Smoke. He has been coming to the club for performances for over 20 years.]
Oh yeah, exactly. He has been coming here, playing here forever. It's really cool to have him. It's dope because it's worlds colliding and merging.
You are obviously on good terms. Is it weird to play again with him after being away from Dumpstaphunk for a while?
No, I've been playing, subbing with Dumpstaphunk for the past four years. If they need help, or somebody can't do a gig, I'll step in and do it. I just played with them in Atlanta and somewhere else. I don’t remember.
So, it is possible to see you behind the kit with Dumpstaphunk again in the future?
Yeah it happens occasionally. At least two or three times a year.
What's going on with Nth Power in 2019? Any new music? Gigs?
Yes. We are putting out a record. It's going to come out, I think, in the beginning of April. We hit the road the same time. We haven't announced yet. All the promoters are not ready to announce.
Can you give us any teases on upcoming shows?
We are going to be doing the Northeast and we’re going to the Midwest; basically, the Eastern seaboard up to Jazz Fest.
So, there will be Jazz Fest gigs. Both Nth Power and you individually?
Yes, Jazz Fest. Nth Power has a daytime set. I'm probably not going to do any Nikki Glaspie & The Homies shows. I have no idea. There are so many shows that happen.
Any upcoming gigs you are particularly looking forward to?
Hey, Jazz Fest is like my favorite thing on earth. It's like, that's really all.
Are you doing any other festivals?
We are doing Electric Forest, that’s going to be awesome. We are doing High Sierra. The normal, all over the place! Doing some stuff over the summer with Maceo [Parker] personally.
Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl just announced their lineup and Maceo with his band is on it.
Oh, nice. I may or may not be there. It depends on the Nth schedule. If we're off then I will definitely be there.
Ivan, how did you get involved with the gig tonight?
Well, Nikki is my friend. Nikki and Angela. I know them and it's a great cause.
You are familiar with the foundation?
I know it's helping some kids that are less fortunate. Inner-city kids that need some help. Everybody needs a little brightness in their lives. If it can come to you. Especially if you live in a dark world. That's basically it. I have some rare downtime. They called me and said, "Do you want to be a part of this?" I'm like, “Hell yeah.” I knew Nikki had played something last year and she and Angela have been involved with it for quite a while. It's a beautiful thing.
Any new Dumpstaphunk material coming this year?
You know, we've been in the recording studio this week, as a matter of fact. We got some stuff that we have been meaning to record. We got some stuff in the can that we need to finish up. There will be some new stuff coming out this year. Most definitely.
Crawfish Fest in New Orleans on the days between Jazz Fest weekends announced their lineup and has you listed for April 29, 2019.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're going to be on that. Me and Cris Jacobs. The Neville Jacobs band.
You guys released a new album, "Neville Jacobs," in September 2018 and did a few shows. What are the chances of a bigger tour?
We're trying to make some time for it. It's just, that's the whole thing. Carve out enough of a period where we can go out and play and just do that music. We will do some stuff in the summer. We have at least one festival date. There will be a few dates around it. As much as often as we can get some windows to do stuff, we definitely will. We love that record that we made. Hopefully somebody hears it and thinks enough of it.
For people that are familiar with Dumpstaphunk, or even those that aren't, what is it about Neville Jacobs that is different that will appeal to them?
Neville Jacobs is a little more, it's got some nastiness to it, it’s got some skankiness to it, it’s got a little more Americana kind of flavor to it. It’s very soulful, it's soulful. Cris is a songwriter. He is leaning toward a country, Americana kind of vibe and more guitar-oriented songwriting.
How did you guys meet?
He was playing with his band some years ago and we crossed paths a couple of times. I walked into Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans to go play poker and he was sitting at the poker table. I ended up sitting next to him. We both knew who each other was. “You are Cris Jacobs. We should do something one day.” You always say that to someone, a mutual musician that you respect and dig what they do, but it doesn’t always happen.
We ran into each other again . . . it was to do with poker, I swear to god. This friend of ours, he was doing some shit in Washington, D.C., something to do with, they were talking to members of Congress, they were advocating to legalize online poker, I swear to god. So I went up to Washington, D.C., and my man Cris was up there too and we’re hanging out. We play in this celebrity tournament with some professional poker players, a couple of sports figures.
After that we got together and we wrote some songs. We just got together with a little tape player and put some ideas, he had some ideas and I had some ideas and we ended up recording some shit. Then it turned into – we had some pieces. We pulled in a couple of other guys, Brady Blade and Tony Hall. We got them involved. We went ahead and we made a record. We loved what we did. It took a few years to get it out. We had laid down the tracks. The record came out this past September after all that time.
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