New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest 2025 Schedule, Sunday, May 4th*
9:15a-10:15 John Boutté (Recorded Saturday April 26th at the WWOZ Jazz Tent)
10:25-11:20 Solid Harmony, live from the Economy Hall Tent
11:40-12:35 Preservation Brass, live from the Economy Hall Tent
12:55-1:50 DK Harrell, live from the Blues Tent
2:10-3:10 Son Rompe Pera (Recorded Friday May 2nd at the Jazz & Heritage Stage) / Lila Downs (Recorded Friday April 27 at the Fais Do-Do stage)
3:35-4:45 Kermit Ruffins Tribute to Louis Armstrong, live from live from the Economy Hall Tent
*All start times are approximate, as these performances are live. Start times have been delayed by as much as 5 minutes sometimes
11:15am-12:15pm
(Recorded Saturday April 26th at the WWOZ Jazz Tent)
John Boutté
• John Boutté was born on November 3, 1958, into a Creole-Catholic family in
the 7th Ward of New Orleans
• His upbringing immersed him in the city’s rich musical traditions, including
Mardi Gras parades and jazz funerals
• Boutté’s musical style blends jazz, R&B, gospel, Latin, and blues
• He was inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Roberta Flack,
which shaped his versatile vocal approach
• He composed and performed “Treme Song,” the theme for HBO’s series
Treme, which depicted post-Katrina New Orleans. Boutté also appeared in the
series
• Boutté collaborated with Paul Sanchez on the album Stew Called New Orleans,
blending their musical talents and dedicated friendship to create a unique
sound that resonates with local and international audiences
• Boutté is the younger brother of jazz and gospel singer Lillian Boutté. He is also
related to legendary cartoonist George Herriman
• He is the eighth of ten children—six girls and four boys—all born to the same
parents
• Boutté’s approach to music emphasizes authenticity and emotional depth,
ensuring each performance resonates with the genuine spirit of New Orleans
12:25-1:20
Economy Hall Tent
Solid Harmony
• Solid Harmony is a vocal trio founded by New Orleans legend Topsy Chapman,
featuring her daughters Yolanda Robinson and Jolynda “Kiki” Chapman
• Solid Harmony’s performances are known for their exquisite vocal harmonies
and captivating stage presence, offering a soulful and uplifting musical
experience
• Their repertoire often includes a mix of jazz standards, blues-infused ballads,
and gospel-tinged songs, all delivered with a unique swing and emotional depth
• The trio’s first performance as Solid Harmony was in Japan in 1998, marking
the beginning of their international presence
• Topsy Chapman gained national recognition as an original cast member of the
Off-Broadway musical One Mo’ Time, set in 1920s New Orleans Black
vaudeville. Her deep gospel roots and rhythm & blues skills influenced the trio’s
musical style
• Following Topsy Chapman’s passing (2022), her daughters and grandson,
trombonist Caleb Windsay, continue to carry on the family tradition, leading
Solid Harmony into the future and preserving their musical heritage
1:40-2:35
Economy Hall Tent
Preservation Brass
• Preservation Brass is the resident brass band affiliated with Preservation
Hall
• The band is led by Mark Braud, a respected trumpeter from New Orleans’
musical lineage, known for his performances with the Preservation Hall
Jazz Band and his family’s deep-rooted musical heritage
• While Preservation Hall’s mainstay jazz band focuses on traditional New
Orleans jazz (and accompanying instrumentation, including banjo, piano,
etc.) the Preservation Brass ensemble jubilantly swings out in the
tradition of the legendary Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band
– Their repertoire includes classic New Orleans tunes, spirituals, and
the high-energy marching music characteristic of local parades
• The Preservation Brass is comprised of some of the city/world’s finest
brass band musicians, and can be heard at home in New Orleans or
touring across the globe
2:55-3:50
Blues Tent
DK Harrell
• 26-year-old self-taught blues guitarist and vocalist
• Began his musical journey at age 13
• His passion for the blues was ignited by the film Cadillac Records, leading him
to explore the harmonica before transitioning to the guitar.
• Inspired by B.B. King, Harrell dedicated himself to mastering King’s style,
focusing on tone and vibrato. He studied numerous videos of King and even
had the honor of performing on King’s iconic guitar, Lucille, at the B.B. King
Museum in Indianola, Mississippi.
• In 2022, Harrell received the Jus’ Blues “B.B. King, King of the Blues” Award
and secured third place in the International Blues Challenge, competing against
over 200 acts.
• Debut Album: The Right Man Released in June 2023 under Little Village
Foundation, Harrell’s debut album features 11 original tracks that showcase his
deep understanding of traditional blues.
• Harrell made his international debut at the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival in
Brazil in November 2022.
• He has since performed at major festivals across Europe and North America,
including the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway.
• Throughout his career, Harrell has shared the stage with prominent blues artists
such as Gary Clark Jr., Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Kenny Neal.
• Serves as the first president of the Ouachita River Blues Society in West
Monroe, Louisiana, and actively participates in initiatives to support the blues
community
4:10-5:10
Son Rompe Pera (Recorded Friday May 2nd at the Jazz &
Heritage Stage)
• Born & raised in the deep outskirts of Mexico City (Naucalpan, Mexico)
• Blend traditional marimba with punk, rock, ska, and psychedelic elements to
create a unique “cumbia punk” sound
• Formed in 2017 by brothers Jesús “Kacho” Gama and Allan “Mongo”
Gama, the band honors their late father, José Dolores “Batuco” Gama Melchor,
a marimba player who taught them the craft from a young age
• Their journey to fame began after a chance performance at Mexico City’s La
Lagunilla market caught the attention of Chico Trujillo’s agent, leading to
collaborations and performances across Latin America and beyond
• Known for high-energy shows featuring moshing, crowdsurfing, and
spontaneous instrument swaps, their concerts are a fusion of traditional
rhythms and punk intensity
• Their 2023 album, Chimborazo, features 12 original tracks that blend modern
cumbia with tropical dance beats, punk, and psychedelic influences, reflecting
their evolving sound
• While embracing modern genres, the band remains committed to preserving
and revitalizing traditional Mexican and Latin American musical heritage
• Son Rompe Pera’s innovative fusion has earned them acclaim in international
media, including features in the Los Angeles Times and NPR, highlighting their
role in the global music scene
Also part of our 4:10-5:10 segment
Lila Downs (Recorded Friday April 27 at the Fais Do-Do
stage)
• Lila Downs is a Grammy and six-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican
singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and fusion of traditional
Mexican music with jazz, blues, and world music influences
– Blends regional Mexican genres like ranchera, cumbia, and son jarocho
with elements of jazz, blues, and soul, creating a unique and dynamic
sound
• Lila’s band features a diverse ensemble, including Lautaro Burgos (bass), Nikki
Campbell (violin), Luis Guzmán (saxophone), Rafael Gómez (percussion), Paul
Cohen (keyboard), George Saenz (harp/guitar), Josh Deutsch (trumpet), and
Sinuhé Padilla (drums).
• Her songs often address social issues such as immigration, women’s rights,
and indigenous identity, resonating deeply with diverse audiences
• Known for her captivating performances, Lila engages audiences with her
emotive storytelling and commanding stage presence.
• Lila’s 14th album, La Sánchez, produced by Orlando Aispuro, features
compositions created during the pandemic, reflecting themes of love, loss, and
resilience
5:35-6:45
Economy Hall Tent
Kermit Ruffins Tribute to Louis Armstrong
• Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins embodies the exuberant spirit of Louis Armstrong and
the New Orleans entertainment culture
• He is perhaps best known for performing with his longtime group, The
Barbecue Swingers
• Born in 1964, Ruffins took up the trumpet in junior high school in New Orleans’
gritty Ninth Ward
• In 1983, he was among the co-founders of the Rebirth Brass Band, modeled
after the seminal Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Ruffins’ infectious personality and Armstrong-inspired virtuosity almost
mandated that he break out with his own band, and he did so in 1992 with the
Barbecue Swingers, which has delighted audiences for over thirty years.
• He combines his love of music with a passion for good barbecue, has been
known to cook barbecue for the whole crowd during his set, and is loved
almost as much as a pit master as a master of the trumpet
• (Makes an excellent Rabbit Stew as well)
• He took over Ernie K-Doe’s Mother-in-Law Lounge after that iconic singer
passed away, and it is now called Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law-Lounge. You
can find Kermit and other musicians playing there multiple times a week
• Ruffins has recorded 17 albums, mostly on the New Orleans-based Basin
Street label. He has collected an armload of awards over the course of his
career, and appeared as himself in several episodes of HBO’s “Treme”
