Philly Gumbo: New Orleans R & B, Funk, Reggae, Blues and Soul

  Philly Gumbo

  Philly Gumbo’s distinctive blend of New Orleans R & B, funk, reggae, blues and soul has made it a unique and popular presence on the Philadelphia music scene for thirty years.  Over the years, the band has been a “Best Of” selection by Philadelphia Magazine in their annual “Best Of Philadelphia” issues as well as having played most of the top venues in the area such as The Kimmel Center, The Sellersville Theater and World Café Live and such major events as the Atlantic City Summer Jazz Festival, Musikfest,  Jambalaya Jam, Jam On The River, WRTI-FM’s Groovin’ In The Park, the Media Blues Stroll, The West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival and many more. Philly Gumbo has opened for such greats as Dr. John, Buddy Guy &  Jr. Wells, Rick Danko & Levon Helm of The Band and Mutabaruka. Having pioneered the live music scene at the legendary South Street venue Bacchanal, Philly Gumbo was often joined by such special guests as Todd Rundgren, David Lindley, Teddy Royal of Fats Domino’s band, members of Harold Melvin & The Blues Notes’ band and others.  In addition, members of Philly Gumbo have played with such legends as Little Milton, Wilson Pickett, Bo Diddley and Big Youth.

       “Philly Gumbo’s long-term popularity has come from two things,” notes founding member Randall Grass: “an ability to play an authentic and unique mix of New Orleans

R & B, funk, reggae, blues and soul, and the presence of great singers, such as Brenda Smith, Walt Taylor, Jeannie Brooks, Richard Johnson, and current lead vocalist India Rex.”

     Formed in late 1980, the band quickly developed a following at the Germantown club

Takers Café with a unique mix of music reminiscent of New Orleans group The Neville Brothers.  As such, the group pioneered the popularity of New Orleans music in Philadelphia, with a celebrated weekly gig at Bacchanal for nearly a decade. The band released its debut single “Holy War b/w Mardi Gras” in 1984 and contributed the original song “Xmas In New Orleans” to the Seasons Greetings Philadelphia benefit CD in 1999.

Four members of  Philly Gumbo—drummer Tim Hayes, bassist Bert Harris, guitarist Pete Eshelman and keyboardist Randall Grass–have been the core of the band since the beginning while saxophonist Richard Orr often sat in with the band as early as the 80’s and vocalist extraordinaire India Rex, is the latest in a long line of exceptional vocalists. The band released a new CD “Come And Get It” in 2011. A Philly Gumbo performance makes a great listening experience, with its ever-shifting mix of New Orleans R & B, blues, jazz, funk, reggae, soul, and even African music, but is equally suited for dancing.

The band appeals to a people of all ages and backgrounds. In fact, it is difficult to resist getting up and shaking your groove thing to Philadelphia’s greatest groove band!