Anderson .Paak.Photo:Israel Ramos
Israel Ramos
Anderson .Paak is headed to the Big Easy.
Later next month the singer is headlining theNew Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where he’s also curating other talent and programming with Expedia for Global Jam, an invite-only afterparty. (One Key members can enter to winentry to the bash, along with tickets to Jazz Fest and a hotel stay.)
Reflecting on his first time visiting the city back in 1998, .Paak, 38, tells PEOPLE he still remembers taking in iconic performances alongside his parents.
“The first time I visited was forEssence Fest. We stayed at a really nice hotel where I tried gumbo for the first time,” he recalls. “I saw Mary J. Blige and D’Angelo and we were blown away. Their stage presence, amazing bands and the electricity in the crowd was almost too much for my 12 year old brain. I remember really thinking thatthisis what I want to do. I want to be playing for people like this for the rest of my life.”
Expedia’s Global Jam.Israel Ramos
Decades later .Paak is now the one inspiring the next generation of musicians, and the star says he remains in awe of theunique culture in New Orleans.
“The music scene is so special. I’m drawing onall those influences musicallyand culturally for the programming for the Global Jam event,” he says of spots like Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, The Rabbit Hole and Toulouse Theatre. “We’re going to have Tank and the Bangas doing a set. They’re from New Orleans and you can hear those funk and soul influences.”
Anderson .Paak in ‘A Big Jam in New Orleans’.Israel Ramos
In the short, .Paak rubs elbows with several local legends, including Secondline Jay5, Gregg Stafford and more.
“It was an absolute honor to work with New Orleans legends,” he says. “Expedia wanted to create something special to capture the local sounds and voices in NOLA, and the film perfectly highlights the New Orleans music scene and the soul of the city.”
As for his Jazz Fest set, themusician says fanscan expect “high energy and lots of fun.”
source: people.com
