3 minute read
Northshore Soundtrack
There’s a Place for Everyone to Find their Groove.
BY ROBERTA CARROW JACKSON
OUR SPRING-SUMMER MIX highlights groups with a Latin influence to bring the energy of local festivals, dance floors and live performances right to your ears. Experience the rich interplay of Latin American and Louisiana musical traditions through these tracks, each reflecting a unique cultural fusion that defines The Northshore's vibrant music scene.
We kick off the collection with the New Orleans-based ensemble, The Iguanas. Renowned since the early ‘90s for their eclectic blend of musical styles, The Iguanas fuse Chicano rock, R&B, Conjunto, Tejano and the blues and jazz traditions of the American South into their sound.
Northshore audiences catch them at Wild Bush Farm + Vineyard in Bush. The winery has hosted several Latin artists at its “Jazz’n the Vines” concert series, including Los Po-Boy-Citos, who pays homage to Latin soul and boogaloo, and Charlie Halloran and The Tropicales, whose traditional Caribbean music brings the sounds of the islands to life.
No Latin playlist would be complete without plenty of brass, so we’ve included Big Sam's Funky Nation, who infuse their New Orleans funk with Latin rhythms to create a dynamic, danceable sound heard at events like Abita Fall Fest, and Bonerama, who has brought their brass-heavy funk infused with Latin grooves to the Mandeville Live! Free Friday concert series.
Harpist Patrice Fisher leads Arpa in blending Latin jazz with Celtic and classical influences, often highlighting the rhythms and melodies of Central and South America. Festgoers saw them at Fontainebleau State Park’s Culture Campout and the Third Sunday Concert Series at historic Christ Episcopal Church in Covington. An instrumental band specializing in a fusion of jazz, Latin and flamenco, Roman Street draws inspiration from Spanish guitar traditions. The duo has performed at The Lobby Lounge Listening Room at The Harbor Center in Slidell.
Versatile clarinetist Ben Redwine explores various genres, including Brazilian samba. His album Samba Jazz is a tribute to the iconic 1962 Jazz Samba album by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, which introduced bossa nova to a global audience. Redwine recorded Samba Jazz on its 50th anniversary, using the same venue and techniques. A recipient of a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts recognition at the 2022 Parish President’s Arts Awards, Redwine performs at venues across the region and events around the world.
While the musicians on this list are also recording artists, you’ll find more groups performing at venues and events across The Northshore, like the Lago Fest Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in September at the Mandeville Trailhead. Prefer a DJ dance night? Check out Havana Salsa Nights at Que Rico! Cuban Café in Slidell.
Perfect for adding a little spice to your day, this playlist celebrates the global rhythms flowing through Louisiana’s musical soul and the cultural fusion that defines The Northshore music scene.
24-MILE PLAYLIST: CAUSEWAY TO THE NORTHSHORE
"Que Tristeza" from Super Ball by The Iguanas (1996)
"Alegria" from Birth of a Nation by Big Sam's Funky Nation (2004)
"Sol Tropical" from Jump Up by Charlie Halloran & The Tropicales (2024)
“Bayou Betty” from Bringing It Home by Bonerama (2007)
"Estelita's Boogaloo" Hasta by Los Po-Boy-Citos (2013)
"Santa Lucia" from Shorelines by Roman Street (2010)
“Só Danço Samba” from Jazz by Ben Redwine feat. David Rosenblatt & John Previti (2018)
"Sunrise on the Bayou" Happy Socks by Patrice Fischer and Arpa (2020)
