Join hosts Tami Larson and Dennis Strazulo as they dive into the vibrant atmosphere of JazzFest 2025, with this episode recorded at The Broadside in New Orleans during the 10th Annual Crawfish Festival. In this episode, the first of several generated from JazzFest, the focus is on the experiences of the captivating, modern New Orleans funk band, The Rumble, authors of a sound they dub "New Orleans Mardi Gras Funk!" Special guest co-host, Wally Ingram, joins the first part of the episode, engaging with The Rumble's co-founder and soulful guitarist, Ari Teitel and its super talented keyboard player, Andriu “Yano” Yanovski, as they reflect on their hard working paths to success as Grammy nominated musicians. The conversation flips to Ari, Andriu and the hosts delving into Wally’s storied journey playing with the likes of Timbuk 3, David Lindley, Sherly Crow, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Crowded House, George Clinton, and David Nelson, making Wally a beloved percussionist/drummer across music genres. As these remarkable artists muse about their influences and mentors, Wally shares stories of his role as mentor for his bass-playing daughter Lydia’s friend, Paolo Pesce and his rising band, Great Big Cow, while exuding praise and respect for the New Orleans music scene and much more!

Ari and Andriu visit with Tales From The Green Room fresh off their set with The Gangsters of Love, performing the music of Johnny “Guitar” Watson on the opening day of the Crawfish Festival. When not playing with The Rumble you can catch Ari playing with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Andriu jamming with David Shaw of The Revivalists, or sitting in with a myriad of ensembles around The Crescent City and across the USA. The duo also make up the-thirds of the sensational improv band, AX3.

The backstage banter continues as the hosts chat it up with other members of The Rumble - leader and co-founder Chief Joseph Boudreaux, Jr., trumpet player Aurelien "Sunpie" Barnes, bassist TJ Norris, and inspirational drummer Trenton O’Neal - moments before they hit the stage on day two of Crawfish Fest. The artists explore the band’s formation, intentional approach, and dynamic performances. The band members also delve into their cultural and musical heritage with engaging anecdotes, industry insights, and a celebration of New Orleans' rich musical tradition. This episode captures the essence of The Rumble's journey and their undeniable impact on New Orleans music and beyond!

Catch The Rumble at High Sierra Music Festival 2025 July 3-6!

Episode Photo Gallery by Chris Applebaum Images – 4/28/25
Episode Photo Gallery by Chris Applebaum Images – 4/29/25

Highlights

There's something about the groove here. It's different. I kind of always say I don't trust a drummer who hasn't spent some time in New Orleans. Yeah. I mean, it's just, it's in the air. You feel it, you're so spoiled down here, man. It's just amazing. It’s unifying too!

-Wally Ingram praising the New Orleans music scene

Detroit's got such a rich musical tradition, and I had a chance to come up under a lot of the greats and people like Ralph Armstrong, who played with Mahavishnu Orchestra and got a chance to play with Allan Barnes, sax player from Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds. I had great teachers like Rodney Whitaker, the great upright bass player in Detroit. So I got a strong foundation in blues bebop, R&B, and then played in church and also in Michigan there was a strong jam band community, so I was kind of always in and out of that.

-Ari Teitel on learning from the greats in his home state of Michigan

It opens you up. You stay open for the moments, for those times when you might go off script. But that's where the magic is. That's the sauce. Those are the moments I freaking live for. You're on the edge, you don't know what's gonna happen, and then you come up. Especially if I were playing with like Wally or Andrew, I'm confident in that unknown. It will present a lot of opportunities for some great moments, and in those moments you discover some new musical ground and then everybody shares a smile.

-Ari Teitel on how his jazz training opens him up to magical musical moments

When I was 19, I met Clyde Stubblefield. in Madison, Wisconsin. A friend of mine brought him to see me play, and I met him and I asked him if he teaches lessons. He goes, no, no man, just play. Just come down every Monday night. I’m at this club. Just come down. So I would go down there and watch him play. Just like what you guys were talking about. And he would say, oh yeah, you're that guy. A drummer, okay, you're up next set. And you'd have to just sit in with his band, which is a full R&B band with horns and they'd be like, oh shit. Clyde's got another drummer. Shit. So you'd have to sit in with his band and hold your own. He was very open to that. And we became great friends his whole life and we played together a lot.

-Wally Ingram on learning from legendary James Brown drummer, Clyde Stubblefield

I was at the show seeing Robert Randolph when I was 11 years old. My dad got everybody in the section to point at me…this kid, this kid! So he calls me up. I played for two minutes and then his guitar tech came to usher me off. Like, okay, that was it. Good job buddy. And then Rob Randolph waved him off, and said, no, no, no, he's staying up. So I played a whole 20 minutes with him. He lifted me up. Yeah. Put me on top of a chair. I didn't know it was happening, my legs were flailing!

-Ari Teitel reflecting on his big moment on stage with Robert Randolph at age 11

I didn't really know the function of a keyboard in a band fully until I heard about Ray Charles and heard what he did for the first time. I had never played a Rhodes piano. It felt insane the first time I played one. It was Ray Charles really that opened my mind. And then it was like Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. And that was cool with my parents 'cause they were classically proficient. But then it started to deepen. Then you, obviously, learn about Miles Davis