2017 WWOZ Piano Night at House of Blues

Frenchy is honored and excited to be part of WWOZ’s annual fundraiser, Piano Night, right in the heart of Jazz Fest – May 1, 7 p.m. at House of Blues. The 29th edition of Piano Night is subtitled “Back to the Roots,” and for good reason, this Piano Night will be a return to the original concept: solo pianists, playing one at a time, on the main stage at the HOB.

While not a trained musician, Frenchy has passion for the piano and loves when notes pass through him and onto canvas.

“How can you not be excited to join legends like Ellis Marsalis, Marcia Ball, Joe Krown, David Torkanowsky, Tom McDermott, Josh Paxton, John Gros, Tom Worrel, and Al “Lil Fats” Jackson?” Frenchy said. “New Orleans, our music and our artists are my passion – events like this move me and they deliver a spiritual righteousness that makes our city different than any place in the world.”

As usual, Piano Night will feature an amazing line-up of players, each of whom is a torch-bearer of the New Orleans Piano Tradition. General Admission tickets on the floor are $52.25, plus fees, and available at http://concerts1.livenation.com/event/1B005271C6A7A9F6 . Several tiers of VIP tickets, featuring reserved seating and cuisine by Jacque-Imo’s, are also available. Discounted parking will be available at Canal Place.

Frenchy, Art, Fundraising, Beer, & Fiya!

Match Made in Heaven:  Frenchy, Art, Fundraising, Beer, and Fiya Fest!

Continuing his support of his beloved New Orleans and staying true to his position as an unofficial ambassador for the NOLA arts and cultural scene, Frenchy is working with FiyaWerks Productions and NOLA Brewing on this year’s Fiya Fest. The festival will be Friday May 2nd as part of 2014’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Fiya Fest is a day of music and crawfish boil – mmmm, mmm! – meant to raise money and awareness for The Roots of Music, an organization that has a mission to teach, support, and empower New Orleans’ youth through music, education, academic support, and mentorship while both preserving and promoting the city’s cultural and musical heritage. Sounds like a perfect place for our boy, Frenchy.

The event will be punctuated by our own NOLA Brewing unveiling its brand new beer, Rebirth Pale Ale. The label will feature three of Frenchy’s original paintings, which will also be debuted that day. In addition, Frenchy will be performing throughout the day, creating live paintings around shows by Maceo Parker, The Headhunters, and many others. The proceeds from Frenchy’s work will also benefit The Roots of Music.

2013 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Frenchy was at it again this year painting for the two weeks of this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

He kicked things off at the Jazz Fest Gala producing two performance paintings of Kermit Ruffins and the Dirty Dozen Brand.  These live paintings raised a combined total of $8,000 with a portion of the proceeds being donated back to the JazzFest Foundation.

Following the gala, Frenchy moved over to the fairground on Friday, Saturday and Sunday  painting live musical performances by John Mayer and Little Freddie King as well as legends like piano man, Billy Joel and blues man BB King.

Painting the music and capturing the spirit continued with Papa Grows Funk over at the Congo Stage. This is a special piece as it marks their last JazzFest together as a band.

Other live paintings included a reunited Fleetwood Mac and the all-star ensemble, Fleur Debris, which features New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton and includes heavy hitters such as  George Porter Jr. and Zigaboo Modelista – the renowned rhythm section of The Meters – and pianist, David Torkanowsky.

Frenchy was also able to catch jazz trumpeter, Terrance Blanchard.

Monday night was the last show at the Maple Leaf Bar for Papa Grows Funk and to close things off in traditional Frenchy style, he poured his heart into painting that show while the Oak Street block celebrated with a Crawfish boil outside. The band held a Monday night residency at the club for many, many years and this painting reflects their final performance:

Paintings from JazzFest 2013

All paintings available in the Frenchylive Online Store

Dr. John

Widespread Panic