Cha Wa – “Jock-A-Mo” (audio) (premiere)

Cha Wa hail from New Orleans and carry on the long cherished traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians, while infusing their music with contemporary NOLA street funk. What you end up with is a grand gumbo of singing, chanting, intoxicating rhythms, and some deep funk grooves that are simply impossible to resist. Respecting the Mardi Gras Indians’ musical lineage, Cha Wa is heavily influenced by notables such as the Wild Magnolias, Dr. John, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, and the Neville Brothers. But they add to that production from Galactic’s Ben Ellman and mixing and mastering from Count, who has worked with Radiohead, DJ Shadow, and Lyrics Born.

Cha Wa says, “​what makes Cha Wa’s​ recording of ​’​Jock-A-Mo​’​ ​(​also known as ​’​Iko Iko’​) so special is the musicians who play on it and the fresh, funky sound that we breathe into it. ​The singer​s on our version​, ​Big ​Chief Irving ‘Honey’ Banister​ and Davell Crawford​, ​both have​ special connection​s​ to the song. ​Davell is the grandson of the writer and original singer of the song, and ​H​oney’s​ father played guitar ​on​ the original studio hit — ​and also plays guitar on th​is​ version​!​ Cha Wa’s cover of “Jock-A-Mo” represents​ ​several ​generations ​collaborating​ on a classic, yet sonically taking the song into the future​. As they say…‘Only in New Orleans’!”

Cha Wa is releasing their new album, Funk ‘n’ Feathers, on April 1st, so come on and get the funk.

TOUR DATES

3/05- Howlin’ Wolf – New Orleans, LA

03/31- Lafayette’s – Memphis, TN

04/01- Blue Nile [Album Release Show] – New Orleans, LA

04/07- French Quarter Fest – New Orleans, LA

04/10- d.b.a – New Orleans, LA

04/21- Ogden Museum of Southern Art – New Orleans, LA

04/23- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA

04/30- French Broad River Festival – Asheville, NC

06/04- Michael Arnone’ s Crawfish Festival – Augusta, NJ