Shannon Powell
Encyclopedia
”The King of Treme” Shannon Powell (born April 8, 1962) is an American jazz
and New Orleans jazz
virtuoso
drummer
. He has toured internationally and played with Ellis Marsalis
, Danny Barker
, Willie Metcalf Jr., Branford Marsalis
, Wynton Marsalis
& the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Diana Krall
, Earl King
, Dr. John
, Marcus Roberts
, John Scofield
, Jason Marsalis
, Leroy Jones
, Nicholas Payton
, and Donald Harrison Jr..
Powell toured and recorded with fellow New Orleans native, Harry Connick Jr. for six years. Together they released two multi-platinum albums, ‘’When Harry Met Sally
’’ and “We Are in Love
”.
neighborhood. Adjacent to the French Quarter
and now made famous by the popular HBO program
of the same name, the Faubourg Tremé was once a thriving community and has been home to many famous musicians, including Alphonse Picou
, George Lewis
, and Kermit Ruffins
.
Shannon’s grandmother Veronica Batiste, played piano
for silent film
and in Baptist
church. By age 6 he was playing drums regularly in The First Garden Christ Church.
neighborhood played an important role in Shannon Powell’s development, as did the multitude of musicians surrounding him but none more than Danny Barker
. Mr. Barker asked Shannon to join the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
with other notable musicians like, Leroy Jones
, Wynton
and Branford Marsalis
, Dr. Michael White, Joe Torregano, Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen, Charles, Kirk Joseph
, and Lucien Barbarin
.
Shannon’s first paying gig was at Jazz Fest
as a member of Danny Barker
’s own band, The Jazzhounds, at 14 years-old.
' first band, New Orleans Finest. He went on to study with pianist Willie Metcalf Jr. at the Black Academy of Arts. Like Powell’s previous mentor, Metcalf asked him to join his band, again with classmates, Wynton
and Branford Marsalis
. Later, Shannon was an original member of the Taste of New Orleans led by tenor
saxophonist, David Lastie.
has played all over Europe
and Asia
in trio gigs with the likes of Ellis Marsalis
, Tommy Ridgely, Johnny Adams
, Kermit Ruffins
, and Lillian Boute. He now plays with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
and leads his own quartet
with Jason Marsalis
, Steve Masakowski, and Roland Guerin.
were awarded the 2010 Ascona Jazz Award from the Ascona Jazz Festival
in Ascona
, Switzerland
.
film about New Orleans musical culture, Tradition is a Temple
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. He has toured internationally and played with Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis is the name of two people, father and son:*Ellis Marsalis, Sr., New Orleans, Louisiana businessman*Ellis Marsalis, Jr., jazz pianist...
, Danny Barker
Danny Barker
Danny Barker , born Daniel Moses Barker, was a jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele player and author from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band...
, Willie Metcalf Jr., Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
& the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Diana Krall
Diana Krall
Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
, Earl King
Earl King
This article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts is an American jazz pianist who has achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Roberts has also distinguished his solos by accompanying himself with walking basslines...
, John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
, Jason Marsalis
Jason Marsalis
-External links:* from Basin Street Records* from Jazzweekly.com...
, Leroy Jones
Leroy Jones
Leroy Jones is a jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, Louisiana. Born February 20, 1958, Jones began playing trumpet at the age of ten, and by the time he was 13 was leading the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, a group of young musicians organized by guitar- and banjo-player Danny Barker...
, Nicholas Payton
Nicholas Payton
Nicholas Payton is a jazz trumpet player from New Orleans, Louisiana.-Biography:The son of bassist and sousaphonist Walter Payton, he took up the trumpet at the age of four and by the time he was nine he was playing in the Young Tuxedo Brass Band alongside his father...
, and Donald Harrison Jr..
Powell toured and recorded with fellow New Orleans native, Harry Connick Jr. for six years. Together they released two multi-platinum albums, ‘’When Harry Met Sally
When Harry Met Sally... (soundtrack)
The soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally... is an album by American singer and pianist Harry Connick, Jr., released in 1989 on Sony/Columbia...
’’ and “We Are in Love
We Are in Love
We Are in Love is an album by American artist Harry Connick, Jr., released in 1990. The multi-platinum album features Connick on piano & vocal, Russell Malone on guitar, Shannon Powell on drums, Benjamin Jonah Wolfe on double bass, and Branford Marsalis on saxophone. Joining the quartet, is...
”.
Early life
Shannon was born and raised in the musically and culturally historic TreméTreme
Tremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
neighborhood. Adjacent to the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
and now made famous by the popular HBO program
Treme (TV series)
Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
of the same name, the Faubourg Tremé was once a thriving community and has been home to many famous musicians, including Alphonse Picou
Alphonse Picou
Alphonse Floristan Picou was an important very early jazz clarinetist who also wrote and arranged music....
, George Lewis
George Lewis (clarinetist)
George Lewis was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life.-Ancestry:...
, and Kermit Ruffins
Kermit Ruffins
Kermit Ruffins is a jazz trumpeter, singer and composer from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He has been heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Eddy Jefferson. Ruffins accompanies a large portion of his songs with his own vocals, and he says that the highest note he can hit...
.
Shannon’s grandmother Veronica Batiste, played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
for silent film
Silent Movies
Silent Movies are 13 solo guitar compositions by Marc Ribot released September 28, 2010 on Pi Recordings.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "For those interested in one of the more compelling and quietly provocative and graceful guitar records of 2010,...
and in Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church. By age 6 he was playing drums regularly in The First Garden Christ Church.
Danny Barker
The sounds of the city of New Orleans and the TremeTreme
Tremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
neighborhood played an important role in Shannon Powell’s development, as did the multitude of musicians surrounding him but none more than Danny Barker
Danny Barker
Danny Barker , born Daniel Moses Barker, was a jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele player and author from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band...
. Mr. Barker asked Shannon to join the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
The Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, also known as the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band, was a New Orleans brass band created by Danny Barker notable for spuring the revival of participation in the city's brass band tradition by a new generation....
with other notable musicians like, Leroy Jones
Leroy Jones
Leroy Jones is a jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, Louisiana. Born February 20, 1958, Jones began playing trumpet at the age of ten, and by the time he was 13 was leading the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, a group of young musicians organized by guitar- and banjo-player Danny Barker...
, Wynton
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
and Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, Dr. Michael White, Joe Torregano, Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen, Charles, Kirk Joseph
Kirk Joseph
Kirk Joseph is a jazz sousaphone player from New Orleans, Louisiana. The son of trombonist Waldren "Frog" Joseph, Kirk Joseph began playing the sousaphone while a student at Andrew Bell Middle School, and took part in his first professional gig at the age of fifteen when his brother Charles...
, and Lucien Barbarin
Lucien Barbarin
Lucien Barbarin is an American trombone player, born July 17, 1956, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Barbarin tours internationally with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and with Harry Connick, Jr....
.
Shannon’s first paying gig was at Jazz Fest
Jazz fest
Jazz fest may mean:*a music festival for Jazz*Cork Jazz Festival*Montreal International Jazz Festival*New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...
as a member of Danny Barker
Danny Barker
Danny Barker , born Daniel Moses Barker, was a jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele player and author from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band...
’s own band, The Jazzhounds, at 14 years-old.
Teens
In high school Powell was a member of the well-respected concert band at Joseph S. Clark High School and member of trumpeter Leroy JonesLeroy Jones
Leroy Jones is a jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, Louisiana. Born February 20, 1958, Jones began playing trumpet at the age of ten, and by the time he was 13 was leading the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, a group of young musicians organized by guitar- and banjo-player Danny Barker...
' first band, New Orleans Finest. He went on to study with pianist Willie Metcalf Jr. at the Black Academy of Arts. Like Powell’s previous mentor, Metcalf asked him to join his band, again with classmates, Wynton
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
and Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
. Later, Shannon was an original member of the Taste of New Orleans led by tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
saxophonist, David Lastie.
Career
Powell, a regular at Jazz FestJazz fest
Jazz fest may mean:*a music festival for Jazz*Cork Jazz Festival*Montreal International Jazz Festival*New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...
has played all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
in trio gigs with the likes of Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis is the name of two people, father and son:*Ellis Marsalis, Sr., New Orleans, Louisiana businessman*Ellis Marsalis, Jr., jazz pianist...
, Tommy Ridgely, Johnny Adams
Johnny Adams
Laten John Adams , known as Johnny Adams, was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, known as "The Tan Canary" for the multi-octave range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto...
, Kermit Ruffins
Kermit Ruffins
Kermit Ruffins is a jazz trumpeter, singer and composer from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He has been heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Eddy Jefferson. Ruffins accompanies a large portion of his songs with his own vocals, and he says that the highest note he can hit...
, and Lillian Boute. He now plays with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band is the name for numerous groups of Dixieland Jazz and traditional jazz bands at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana, and on tours as organized by the Preservation Hall...
and leads his own quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
with Jason Marsalis
Jason Marsalis
-External links:* from Basin Street Records* from Jazzweekly.com...
, Steve Masakowski, and Roland Guerin.
Awards
Powell and Herlin RileyHerlin Riley
Herlin Riley is an American Neo-bop jazz drummer. Along with other notable musicians such as Wynton Marsalis and Wessel Anderson, he is a member of the New York jazz group, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra....
were awarded the 2010 Ascona Jazz Award from the Ascona Jazz Festival
Ascona Jazz Festival
Ascona Jazz Festival, or Jazz Ascona, is an annual Jazz Festival held in Ascona, Switzerland. The 10-day festival, from late June to early July takes place on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore and is devoted to historical styles of jazz and in particular to the music of New Orleans.Under the...
in Ascona
Ascona
Ascona is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.It is located on the shore of Lake Maggiore.The town is a popular tourist destination, and holds a yearly jazz festival, the Ascona Jazz Festival....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Film
Powell's interviews and performances are featured heavily in the 2011 documentaryDocumentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
film about New Orleans musical culture, Tradition is a Temple
Tradition Is a Temple
Tradition Is a Temple is an American documentary film about New Orleans jazz culture and modernization’s effect on American traditions.-Plot:...
.
External links
- Official website
- At Preservation Hall
- Tradition is a Temple (film)
- http://www.jazzascona.ch/index.php/Awards/Ascona Jazz FestivalAscona Jazz FestivalAscona Jazz Festival, or Jazz Ascona, is an annual Jazz Festival held in Ascona, Switzerland. The 10-day festival, from late June to early July takes place on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore and is devoted to historical styles of jazz and in particular to the music of New Orleans.Under the...
(award)]