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DON’ T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT !
DR . YA YA’S GUMBO PARTY SHOWS PERFORMED IN 2004-2009 .
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT - AVERY POINT GROTON , CT .
( Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday event )
CHOATE SCHOOL WALLINGFORD , CT . at the ARTS CENTER ( Alumni weekend ) .
TASTE OF WEST SPRINGFIELD , WEST SPRINGFIELD , MA . ( 2 times )
ELM RIDGE PARK SPRING / SUMMER FESTIVAL ROCKY HILL , CT .
PROSSER LIBRARY BLOOMFIELD , CT .
PFIZER CORPORATION PFIZER FACILITY GROTON, CT .
LAKE QUASSAPAUG MIDDLEBURY , CT . FORTH OF JULY EVENT . ( 3 TIMES )
DOLITTLE PARK WALLINGFORD , CT . SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
MARLBOROUGH PARK AND REC. MARLBOROUGH , CT . SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
SLEEPY HALLOW PARK , NY on the HUDSON RIVER . SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
CENTER SCHOOL OXFORD , CT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ( already contracted for 2005 )
MILLS POND RECREATION AREA CANTON , CT . SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ( 2 times )
THE GREEN in SHELTON , CT . SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
STEIGER PARK CENTER OF SPRINGFIELD , MA . SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
MIDDLEFIELD PARK & REC. SUMMER CONCERT SERIES . ( 3 TIMES )
WALLINGFORD DAY WALLINGFORD , CT .ANNUAL EVENT . (2 TIMES )
CELEBRATE SIMSBURY , CT.
FIRST NIGHT NIGHT MILFORD , CT .( already contracted for 2005 )
FIRST NIGHT MILFORD 2005
SOUTHBURY CELEBARTION ( 3 TIMES )
SHELTON CT. ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY BASH ( 2 TIMES )
DANBURY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES (3 times )
HEBRON SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
WINDSOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
HADDAM – KILLINGWORTH SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
THE BOX CAR WESTPORT , CT. fundraiser for GLUF COAST KATRINA SURVIVORS .
CAFÉ 9 NEW HAVEN , CT ( 2 TIMES )
THE BOX CAR ( BENEFIT FOR KATRINA RELIEF )
DANBURY HIGH SCHOOL ( BENEFIT FOR KATRINA RELIEF )
TIPATINA’S FOUNDATION CONCERT NEW HAVEN CT. ( BENEFIT FOR KATRINA RELIEF )
AVON DAYS AVON , CT. (2x)
SIMSBURY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
AVON SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
WINDING TRAILS SUMMER CONCERT
MANSFIELD CT. SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
THE ROTELLA MAGNET SCHOOL WATERBURY , CT CONCERT
LINDEN STREET SCHOOL ( BENEFIT FOR KATRINA RELIEF )
BLOOMFIELD CT. SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
MANCHESTER COUNTRY CLUB ANNUAL MARDIS GRAS PARTY ( 2 TIMES )
THE LADY KATHERINE CRUISE HARTFORD , CT ( 4 TIMES )
PRIVATE CORPORATE EVENT ABOURD THE LADY KATHERINE HARTFORD , CT.
MANCHESTER LIBRARY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES .
THE MADISON CT. GREEN ( with members of DR YA YA’S GUMBO PARTY )
MADISON PARADE DAY
THE BIG E SPRINGFIELD , MA . ( 2 TIMES )
TASTE OF DANBURY , CT. ( HEADLINER ) Opener BLUE OYSTER CULT .
TOWN OF NEW MILFORD CONCERT ON THE GREEN – AUG 2009
SOUTHINGTON ROTARY CLUB – FEB 2009 MARDIS GRAS PARTY
- http://www.cuttingedgeentertain.com/
Discography
N/A
For Bookings, and Current Calendar Updates please contact agent:
Rob Jockel
CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT
69 TRAILSEND DRIVE
CANTON, CT. 06019
860-693-9116 office
860-693-6866 fax
WEBSITE: http://cuttingedgeentertain.com/
EMAIL: rjockel@cuttingedgeentertain.com
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Bio
~ Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party FAQ's ~
Who's Dr. Ya Ya? The original Dr. Ya Ya was a voodoo root doctor in 19th century New Orleans, a successor to Marie Laveau and the original Doctor John.
How'd a band from the Nutmeg State come to be named after him? Dr. Ya Ya's Louisiana specialty was a jimson weed elixir, not the fake nutmegs carved from wood and sold by Connecticut peddlers of old. One hundred & fifty years or so later, a Connecticut musician got tired of missing Mardi Gras every year because of gigs in New England and asked friends to join together in a party band to celebrate Fat Tuesday. At their 1992 debut, this masked ensemble of popular Connecticut musicians had so much fun that they continued performing sporadically as Dr. Ya Ya's Dirty Rice Revue. The current Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party grew from this mysterious krewe.
What's a gumbo party? When a group of friends get together for a gumbo party, everyone brings a different ingredient to toss into the cooking pot. Thats what New Orleans music is about too and we like to cook our music the same way!
DR. YA YAS GUMBO PARTY
New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, but it is also the home of lots of other great music which, like jazz, mixes many musical & cultural traditions together - rhythm & blues, funk, swing, country, and the rhythms of Mardi Gras. Heres the lowdown on some songs you might hear Dr. Ya Yas Gumbo Party perform:
IKO IKO was first recorded as Jock A Mo in 1954 by Sugar Boy Crawford & The Cane Cutters, who turned Mardi Gras Indian chants into a rocknswing tune. Iko Iko was later made famous by The Dixie Cups and other pop groups.
Hank Williams was from Alabama, but JAMBALAYA is a favorite with Louisiana r&b, country, Cajun, and zydeco bands (and tastes good no matter what state you eat it in!).
Like many of Huey Piano Smiths songs, DONT YOU JUST KNOW IT turns kids rhymes into a sly rockin singalong. Huey also wrote hits like ROCKIN PNEUMONIA & THE BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU and SEA CRUISE, which were also hits for Frankie Ford. Both Huey and Frankie are still performing - dont miss em!
BIG CHIEF is songwriter/guitarist Earl Kings tribute to the Mardi Gras Indians, African Americans who parade through New Orleans neighborhoods in spectacular feathered and beaded costumes early Mardi Gras morning every year in honor of Native Americans. Professor Longhairs 1964 recording of BIG CHIEF is a popular carnival time hit, often performed by The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, The Subdudes, and many others. Earl Kings other great songs include LETS MAKE A BETTER WORLD and COME ON (which many people know from the Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan versions).
Aaron Nevilles ballad TELL IT LIKE IT IS was a humungous hit in 1966. Today he has a thriving solo career and performs around the world with the fantastic Neville Brothers, whose YELLOW MOON turns up in Dr. Ya Yas repertoire.
BLUE MONDAY and IM READY are two of dozens of popular hits by Fats Domino, the pride of New Orleans Ninth Ward.
Long before Madison Avenue swiped it for tv ads, BAREFOOTIN was a big hit for New Orleans own Robert Parker.
The Meters, New Orleans godfathers of funk, turned a Mardi Gras Indian chant and street parade beat into HEY POCKY A-WAY. Other Meters hits include FIYO ON THE BAYOU and CISSY STRUT. HEY POCKY A-WAY can also be found on the wonderful Wild Tchoupitoulas album, a must in any NAwlins music rack.
SICK AND TIRED was a hit for Chris Kenner, originator of Land of 1000 Dances.
The first hit on SINCE I FELL FOR YOU was in 1945 by its author, Buddy Johnson, whose sister Ella sang it with Buddys r&b big band. Lenny Welch had a hit with it 18 years later and, no offense to everyone whos covered this sweet ballad - from Louis Armstrong to Streisand to Nina Simone to B.B. King - we kinda like Dr. Johns arrangement based on bandleader Paul Gaytens version!
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD comes from The Subdudes, one of the best modern bands in New Orleans and hey, dig it, in all of America.
From his own songs, like SUCH A NIGHT and RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME, to ancient barrelhouse blues like SOMEBODY CHANGED THE LOCK, pianist/singer Dr John is one of the most colorful defenders of NAwlins musical traditions.
Little Richard was from Georgia, but he recorded nearly all of his early hits - like LUCILLE - in New Orleans studios with the baddest musicians in town behind him.
Smiley Lewiss ONE NIGHT was One Night of Sin before Elvis Presleys handlers cleaned it up into One Night With You. Dr Ya Yas version depends on how funky the crowd looks - always a judgement call!
PARTY TILL THE MONEY RUNS OUT comes from another fierce contemporary NAwlins band, The Radiators.
RIDE YOUR PONY was a massive dance hit for Lee Dorsey, one of rocknrolls great philosophers.
Folks, believe it or not, YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE was written by country singer Jimmie Davis, who sang the song while campaigning to become Louisiana
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