The Sound Cafe

NOLA Mardi Gras Indians, The Rumble, Set To Release New LP 'Live At The Maple Leaf'

By Pati deVries. Photo Credit: sun_shine504.

New Orleans outfit, The Rumble, is pleased to announce that they will be releasing Live at the Maple Leaf on May 19th. "My People", the first single off of the new album, will be released on April 14th. To coincide with the release is an extensive national summer tour, (dates below.)

On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you'll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line known as "the rumble." Featuring six Grammy-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band — it's an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture.

After working together for years in the Grammy-nominated Cha Wa, Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, and keyboardist Andriu Yanovski joined forces with drummer Trenton O'Neal to form The Rumble. The group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers — but updated, modern, and vibrant —with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendour of the Black Masking carnival tradition.

Their debut album, which deftly captures the group's symphony of rich colour and propulsive sound, was recorded live at the iconic Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, allowing listeners to be immersed in the experience of their live show. While each member contributes a personal inspiration and influence to the band's sound, they come together as working musicians who are deeply rooted in the Crescent City and its rich culture, living and breathing it daily.

The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles (both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux's father, Monk Boudreaux), with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian-style call-and-response chanting. But to classify them merely as "a Mardi Gras Indian group" would be a mistake.

This record reflects 30+ years of New Orleans history. It captures the beating heart of a city often reduced to flimsy stereotypes and outdated assumptions. It draws on vibrant subcultures of the city ranging from brass bands to contemporary R&B, funk, hip-hop, and more. While their live show is electric, The Rumble is more than a party band. Their work is deeply spiritual, and through it, they're fighting to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance.

The Rumble provides listeners and audiences with a joyful, affirming, and nuanced musical experience and the chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture-bearers.

L-R Joseph Boudreaux Jr., Andriu "Yano" Yanovski, Trenton O'Neal,

TJ Norris,Aurelien Barnes, Ari Teitel, Jose Maize Jr.

Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. (Vocalist)

Joseph Boudreaux Jr. is a third-generation New Orleanian and Black masking Indian Chief, vocalist, and percussionist. Boudreaux grew up ensconced in the culture and music of New Orleans. From a young age, he interacted with members of legendary bands like The Neville Brothers and The Meters as they paid visits to his father, Monk Boudreaux, Big Chief of the Golden Eagles, and the legendary singer of the Wild Magnolias. Along with Big Chief Bo Dollis Sr., Joseph's father oversaw the introduction of Black masking Indian music to the world in the early 1970s. Being groomed both for the street—as the second Chief of the Golden Eagles—and the stage, Joseph began traveling the world and performing with the Wild Magnolias band at just ten years old. While building a respected reputation as one of New Orleans' top masking Indian designers, the younger Boudreaux, like his father, also grew his reputation on the stage after being featured on the Wild Magnolias album Life is a Carnival, Won't Bow Down by Big Chief Monk, and many others. In 2019, Boudreaux joined several other young New Orleans musicians in the band Cha Wa. Becoming the frontman for the band, Joseph brought a new dimension to their sound with his vocals, songwriting, and captivating rap lyrics on the band's My People, which garnered him his first Grammy nomination. Moving on from Cha Wa, he formed The Rumble with six other highly lauded local musicians.

Ari Teitel (Guitar)

A multiple Grammy-nominated musician, and former member of Mardi Gras Indian Funk band Cha Wa, he earned two nominations for Best Regional Roots Music Album while with the group as musical director, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. Teitel has performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, JazzAscona in Switzerland, Ottawa Jazz Festival, and Cupa Dupa in New Zealand and has worked with Iggy Pop, PJ Morton, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Nigel Hall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irma Thomas, Mononeon, and many more. In 2022, Teitel also released a solo project featuring Nigel Hall, Jamison Ross, Erica Falls, and Paul Randolph.

Aurélien Barnes (Trumpet)

Aurélien Barnes is a New Orleans trumpeter, vocalist, and percussionist. Musical versatility runs in the blood, as Aurélien is the son of Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, a multi-instrumentalist and specialist in Blues, Zydeco, and Afro-Caribbean music. Aurélien plays and has played in The Rumble, Kings of Brass, Preservation Hall, Rebirth Brass Band, the Palmetto Bug Stompers, and more. He received a Grammy nomination in 2021 for his contributions to Cha Wa's My People, which was nominated for Best Regional Roots Album. In addition, he has performed and worked with Nicholas Payton, Marcus King, Robert Randolph, Dr. John, Boogie Trio, and Carlos Vives—winner of the Red Bull Street Kings competition with Kings of Brass.

José Maize Jr. (Trombone)

Joseph Maize Jr. is the embodiment of the infectious 7th Ward sound of New Orleans brass musicians. He's a Grammy nominee for Cha Wa's second album, Spyboy, with songwriting credits on several songs. His playing, songwriting, and rapping are highly featured on Cha Wa's 2021 release, My People. He was a founding member of The To Be Continued Brass Band and has performed at hundreds of traditional funerals and Second Line parades. Maize has recorded three albums, four mix tapes, and the highly acclaimed documentary From The Mouthpiece on Back.

TJ Norris (Bass)

TJ Norris is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who began playing trombone at church at 11, picking up the bass at 14. In addition to being the bassist and a vocalist with The Rumble, Norris currently tours with artists including Delfeayo Marsalis and PJ Morton. He recently ended a 5-year stint in the internationally acclaimed Dirty Dozen Brass Band, where he sang and played trombone, bass, and organ. His grandfather, Melvin Norris, was once a member of the soul group The Drifters.

Andriu "Yano" Yanovski (Keyboards)

A Grammy-nominated and full-time member of The Rumble and Boogie T. Rio, "Yano" has also played with The Revivalists, Maggie Koerner, Tony Hall, and more. In addition, he's featured on over 100 recordings, including those with Boogie T. Rio, David Shaw, GRiZ, and Samantha Fish.

Trenton O'Neal (Drums)

Born in the Southern Baptist church and shaped by the rhythm-filled streets of New Orleans, O'Neal has been marching in parades since elementary school. He was a member of Loyola University's wind ensemble, drums with Deltaphonic, and has been playing Jazz Fest since 2007 with Desmond Venable, Derek Douget, Jessie McBride, and Maggie Koerner.