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JOHN BOUTTÉ & UPTOWN OKRA
It's hard to know what makes John Boutté such an incredible and unique vocalist. Is it his upbringing in New Orleans, where second-line street parades rolled by the family home -as he and his sisters sang along? Perhaps, it's his time spent learning Korean folk songs as a young Army Lieutenant overseas, or paying his dues on the road in Europe, where he was both the singer and drove the van. Whatever's behind it, John Boutté's smoldering, spirit filled tenor is one-of-a-kind.
John's talent and voice stand above and beyond others, even in New Orleans, home to some of the world's greatest musicians. His was recently named OFFBEAT Magazine's 2003 Male Vocalist of the Year and received the 2001 Big Easy Entertainment Awards Male Performer of the Year honor. His CD's include several jazz projects, a gospel recording with a one thousand-member Danish choir, and a collection of piano and vocal duets. He has also contributed lead vocals to a disc by the Havana-based, Cubanismo! and to a Grammy-nominated record by Los Hombres Calientes.
Despite the celebrated recordings and performances, Boutté has always been content to keep a low profile on the national scene as he mastered his craft. He is now ready to sing out.For this, John Boutté has recruited a band with a stripped-down sound that shares his passion for emotional and energetic concerts. Uptown Okra is an acclaimed New Orleans bluegrass and roots group that formed in 1999. They are a dynamic band that plays and sings with something essential to John: feeling.
The collaboration began the summer of 2001 when Boutté got an unusual offer: a promoter wanted him to tour Venezuela with a country & western band. Surprised, but unfazed, he enlisted the mandolin, guitar, upright bass and drums of Uptown Okra. The resounding success of the pairing compelled Boutté to bring this new style back to New Orleans.
The sound proved to be entirely unique, the result of two entities with disparate influences coming together. It's like a crossing of acoustic roots music, bluegrass and gospel, with soul, blues and jazz. Call it "roots music from New Orleans and beyond" -though labels never tell the whole story.
John Boutté & Uptown Okra was widely recognized by the New Orleans music press as one of the top acts at the 2002 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Despite their absence from the 2003 Festival, their debut CD, Carry Me Home, was listed amongst the Jazz Fest Top 20 Records.
Since its first tour, the band has played a select number of festivals and engagements, drawing lavish attention and praise at each stop. With previous personal and musical commitments now complete, John Boutté & Uptown Okra is ready to focus its energy and bring this distinctive brand of music far and wide.
