Once Upon a Time in the Soul Chamber

Soul Rebels’ Lumar LeBlanc from A to Z

BY MICHAEL ALLEN ZELL

The stage will be packed with a singular focus and one love when the legendary Wu Tang Clan join forces with the groundbreaking Soul Rebels to bring the nitty gritty to the Crescent City.

Soul Rebels co-founder Lumar LeBlanc opened his mind and his memory for a stunning A-to-Z of New Orleans, influences, loves, learning moments, and, of course, music.

Adventures. “Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel.” The Blondie song (“Rapture”) named Flash, so I wondered who it was. Once I heard this as a kid, I could never get it out of my mind. It’s ingenious. It touched my soul and enhanced my love for music.

Big Cheeky. Big Cheeky comes from a name that one of our original members, Tyrus Chapman, gave me because I’m a big dude. It’s stuck with me since early adulthood because of my large size, particularly in the back.

Children. My first son is finishing studying Chemistry at Xavier University. My youngest son is finishing in Business Finance and Marketing from St. Thomas. I’m proud of them. My wife’s done a lot to hold them down since I’ve been on the road so much. You hope that good direction will navigate them through this wilderness in the righteous sense.

DJ Slick Leo. Talk about another classic moment in my life that changed my world. The Famous Theater (1538 Marigny Street now part of the Auto Zone parking lot) was a place I went to as a kid in the hood. They showed major motion pictures like Superfly . When I got to junior high, they shut it down and converted it into a discotheque. The show was called “Live from the Famous with Slick Leo.” They would broadcast it late at night, mixing rock ’n’ roll records with Grandmaster Flash or Kurtis Blow. I remember hearing the Romantics with the lyric, “I hear the secrets that you keep when you’re talking in your sleep,” mixed live.

ESPN Greatness Ad . It was a blessing. You create music and don’t know what’ll happen with it. All through March Madness (20192020 season) it was being played over and over again. It’s a song that has a very positive strong message, so I think it fits well with what they were doing. Just believing in yourself. That was so cool. I’m grateful to the band.

Fashion. Fashion is something handed down to me from both sides of my family. It’s akin to living life on an elevated level. My grandfather on my dad’s side was very fashionable and into high-end stuff from Rubenstein Brothers. He worked at a five-star hotel and had to wear a tuxedo to work. I didn’t see him in jeans until he retired. People on my mama’s side were fashionable too even though they didn’t have money like that. She brought the style and fashion from the French people they were descendants of. I was always into sneakers. I was finally able to get a new job as a teenager and be able to buy the sneakers and clothes I wanted. Fashion became an identity thing for me. If the shoes aren’t right, everything else is not gonna be right. Fashion tends to go with the times, but style is personal. I used to wear Nikes in school, and some people laughed because they were running shoes then, but I always thought they were cool.

Growing up. I grew up mainly in the Sixth Ward. Nobody in the projects had a new car. We knew all the people who had cars, that’s how many people owned them. Everybody would pile in and chip in for gas if you needed to do something that required a vehicle. We would get old shopping carts from the grocery store. We had a girl collect beads and throws from the parades and push her in the cart. My friends and I would be behind the shopping cart being pushed as if we’re the marching band and she was in the float. Yeah, it was crazy. When we moved, I was devastated. They put a big old table in the backyard like we’re sitting with royalty. We had hamburgers and french fries with all my little friends. They bussed them in two cars to come celebrate a house-warming party with me. When we got the Eighth Ward apartment after living in the projects, it felt like suburban life. I love all of them, but the Sixth Ward really stuck with me. That’s where the culture was, the music, and people sitting on the porch.

Houston. H town, I associate with maturity and growing up. Becoming a man. If my mother and father had their way, I would’ve been a doctor or lawyer. I was in the marching band (St. Augustine High School Marching 100) in high school. The man who owned the Houston Oilers saw us playing for the New Orleans Saints in Houston. He was so impressed, said, “I wanna bring y’all back,” and made a whole weekend out of the trip. He took us to see Texas Southern University Marching Band. It looked like a choreographed Broadway performance. Once I became a senior, they offered scholarships to me and the majority of our senior musicians, but it happened at the last minute. I had already committed to LSU. Once I got the scholarship, one of my friends who became an original member of Soul Rebels said, “I’m going to Houston. Why don’t you come?”

I Love to Read. I love to read autobiographies on history. People and personalities. My mom was an avid reader. She would take me to the library to expose me to different things. Those were some of the most precious solitary moments I had. It was as sacred as a church. It got to the point I couldn’t stop reading. I don’t think my mom thought it was a bad thing, but she was concerned because I was in the bathroom for longer than a child probably needs to be. I had tons of magazines stored to read in there. I would read anything—cereal boxes, canned goods.

Jim Morrison. Oh, the Lizard King. The Doors. Another introduction from my mom. She listened to a lot of rock ’n’ roll. Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon. I could imagine how people were looking at a young black kid with an Afro buying these records. I listened to them over and over. I didn’t understand The Doors fully, but I could coherently hear the words, and they stuck with me. Jim Morrison is mystical to me.

Kurland Agency. They’ve helped make the Soul Rebels even more of a brand. Branford Marsalis had given me Ted Kurland’s number and card before Hurricane Katrina and said if you really want to tour and do it on a high level, Ted is the one. His son Alex’s become an industry giant too. Adam Shipley is essential. I give credit to them for furthering the professional and business part of our journey. Those guys have done an excellent job, and hopefully our relationship will continue to blossom. Together we still have some uncharted waters that we need to swim in.

Let Your Mind Be Free. Let Your Mind Be Free (the first Soul Rebels album) is a classic piece that New Orleans should be very proud of. It was a total organic experience that came from the culmination of Cyril Neville, Milton Batiste, Harold Dejan and the nine band members. It was authentic, because we weren’t seasoned in the music industry. All of it was strictly done on what we wanted and felt, rather than having a producer say this is what you need to do to get a little commercial success. It was a calling card to stop the violence in the city. The crack epidemic in New Orleans. We were playing many jazz funerals. It got bad in the war, so we came together and said we need to make music since we’re playing in the street and touching hundreds of people. It has to be one of the most innovative brass band records that exists.

Middle School Teacher. That’s probably the toughest job I ever had, teaching kids of that age group. Personalities at that age are so hard. I love education. That part is easy to me. What’s tricky is that each kid is different with their own individual space mentally and emotionally, so you gotta try to find different ways to teach them the material in a receptive manner. I just got my Masters, and if I ever teach again, it’ll be on the college level.

Cyril Neville. He let us spend countless hours practicing at his house and his studio. Cyril came up with the name Soul Rebels . He said it reminds him of Bob Marley.

Olympia Brass Band. For me they’re the grandfathers of brass band music in New Orleans. Olympia did an excellent job of transforming it. They didn’t wear the traditional black and white band uniforms. They were kind of show time Hollywood with nicknames that were like characters. Olympia were superstars to us. They influenced everybody, because they did it on a big scale and were able to commercialize brass band music. They did all those different types of performances.

Porsche. I had a 944 Porsche. I don’t love objects, but it was really fine. Classic car. I did a European tour, and I came back able to get that car. When I was young, I used to read GQ Magazine and first saw a Porsche there. You should have seen me driving that car with the sunroof. I felt like Michael Jackson, a superstar. The paint job was immaculate, but the car was expensive for me to keep up maintenance-wise. I love how it sat low, and the lights popped up so at night it looked like a little spaceship from The Jetsons.

Quincy Jones. I hope I can meet Quincy. He epitomizes what it means to be a musician and live the life. I don’t understand how a man can hear all that music, from classical to hip hop to jazz to rock. To be able to touch all those different charts successfully. I love to hear him talk about how important artistry is to life. That’s what I love, his blessings to this universe. Red Beans and Rice. That touched my soul. I might cook some red beans when I get home. I don’t eat meat too much anymore, but red beans are still a delicious-tasting southern delicacy. I get Camellia red beans, soak, and cook them. It just takes so long because you cook the beans a long time. I’m a red beans and rice man like Louis Armstrong. I really could eat beans every single day. I eat it three times a week sometimes. I cook a big pot and we just go over the week.

St. Augustine High School. St. Aug is another institution that changed my life. Discipline, education, and leadership. I went during eighth grade, so I spent five years at the school. It was an environment that was extremely disciplined, very competitive, and all the extracurricular activities exemplified this too. Discipline is the main focus at St. Augustine. It was an intimidating place. I love the school. You have to realize it’s a spiritual education. It gives you the faculties for dealing with life. I went to Catholic private schools my whole life no matter where I lived, and when I got older, I looked forward to going to St. Aug.

Third. My grandfather that I mentioned earlier with the clothes is Lumar, the first. He lived a long time, almost made it to 100. Grandpa was very stylish, kind of flashy. My father was the opposite. All my dad really wanted was a wife, a family, and a good job. He got that. I was an only child, so they were really protective. My dad was so proud that he had a son to name after him. I didn’t feel any pressure, because my dad is a nice, caring, loving man. He was a good dude. His whole thing was to take care of the family. You know how much noise I used to be? They bought me a drum. I started early, in first or second grade. Everybody coming to your house. We made noise like crazy, and never stopped. They let me do it all night. Then I became a parent, and I couldn’t let my sons be like that.

University. I went to TSU, Texas Southern University. You had to grow up quick. I was on my own. I couldn’t run home. My mother and father told me, “Look you got a job to do.” When you succeed you feel a level of accomplishment that you’re proud of, so that’s why I didn’t leave. My friends mostly left. TSU taught me my Afrocentrism, about who I was as a Black man in America, and how to be self-sufficient. University education is more universal, and that changed my life. I have a big appreciation for different cultures, for different people. I became a more worldly individual. It was preparing me for what I would experience when I travel. I didn’t know it at the time, but I’m seeing it to this day.

Vibe. We call it the Soul Rebel vibe. Trying to keep positive amongst each other. We do that through respect. That’s the best way to put it.

Wu Tang Clan. We’re so blessed and honored to be playing with the Wu Tang—a legendary institution. They’re able to bring the stamp on hip hop that you need. We first did single shows with the GZA, that went well, and we played with The Chef Raekwon. This Jazz Fest show will be so special. I hope people take notice of what’s going on. It’ll show authenticity between hip hop and horns and jazz and funk musicians. I’m looking forward to the show and we’re practicing hard. eXpatriate. I’m blessed to be part of the fabric of America through my artistry and through my experience. If I had to say, where else would I live? I really love France and Japan. As a culture France is a utopia with the food, and the people are so free-flowing. When we went to Japan, you would talk to them and could tell they really studied it. The music, hip hop, and sneakers.

Young Olympia Brass Band. A very talented group of men who understood tradition and modern innovation. Those bonds will live on forever. What we did was to take the jobs that Olympia [Brass Band] couldn’t do. They were so busy, but Milton [Batiste] handled it like a business. They would put us on jobs so that the money stayed in Olympia, and he could trust that we would do the jobs professionally.

I’m amazed to see how the younger brass band musicians use the music as a learning tool for traditional music.

Zodiac. We have different personalities to mesh, and we do a great job of that. As a band you have all different types. When you do this like we do it and we have to be together for so many days in a year of playing music, that’s a team effort. O

Thursday May 4 at 12:20 p.m.

Fais Do-Do Stage