River’s on Fire

This New Year's Eve

11 This New Year’s Eve

Cocaine and Chicken Fricassée

10 Cocaine And Chicken Fricassee

House of Love

06 House Of Love

River's on Fire

02 River’s On Fire

“Sharing New Orleans with the world is my calling,” says pianist and organist John “Papa” Gros. “That's what I have been doing and that's what I’ll do with the rest of my life.”

New Orleans native John “Papa” Gros (pronounced grow) has been celebrating the Crescent City’s culture with the world for over three decades. His third solo album Central City, out on _____, is the latest chapter in the singer and pianist’s lifelong tribute to his city’s diverse musical legacy. The album is an upbeat collection of classic New Orleans party songs, both new and old, filtered through Gros’ dedication to his craft.

The old-fashioned vibes of Central City find Gros trading in the Hammond B3 for a Steinway Piano and immersing the songs in the rich sounds of horns, banjo and second line drumming. “Central City is a departure from my other records in that it’s a return to my roots. This is the tradition of New Orleans and the sounds I heard at every family celebration as a kid,” says Gros, who was world-renowned as a hard-hitting funk organist in his former group, Papa Grows Funk.

Gros’ infectious personality and tunes like his personal carnival anthem “Mardi Gras” turn any room into an instant party. As he puts it, “I’m a New Orleans cultural ambassador who happens to be a loudmouth, piano-playing, singer-songwriter.”

Gros’ feel good originals hold their own alongside his takes on beloved songs by Allen Toussaint, Lloyd Price and John Price. The stellar supporting cast, who include Papa’s former boss, bassist George Porter Jr. (The Meters), drummer Herlin Riley (Wynton Marsalis), and trumpeter Mark Braud (Harry Connick Jr.), has defined the cultural, historic and musical significance of New Orleans for generations. Together, they perfectly exploit the similarities between New Orleans jazz and early rock 'n' roll on songs such as "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and "Personality." With exquisite songwriting and real deal musicianship, Central City is sure to lift the spirits of everyone from lifelong New Orleans music fans to revelers wanting to pass a good time.

10 You Do It

09 Gone So Long

08 Mardi Gras

07 Please Don't Bury Me

06 Deep In The Mud

05 It's Raining

04 Personality

03 Old Joe's Turkey

02 All My Rivers

Central City

01 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

After two albums with New Orleans funk band Papa Grows Funk, keyboardist, singer and songwriter John "Papa" Gros stepped out this spring with his debut solo CD, "Day's End," to cut this year’s best local roots rock album. The disc is laden with roots rock and swamp soul that references Leon Russell, Dr. John, Little Feat and John Fogerty, among others. Pedal steel and country harmonies turn up in the ballad "Roll Away." Chiming mandolin lies over acoustic guitar on the literate back porch meditation "The Ground." Gros wrote or co-wrote most tracks, but chose four appropriate covers, including Earl King's "Make a Better World" and singer-songwriter Dayna Kurtz's intimate "Last Good Taste." Gros' piano boogies across Van Morrison's "When That Evening Sun Goes Down" and goes solo on Melvin Lastie's New Orleans saloon-style "Keep on Gwine." The slightly woozy "Toulouse Serenade" sums up a fine New Orleans day in six lines, an ode worthy of Randy Newman.

1 What's The Matter? Part 2. #35

“Sharing New Orleans with the world is my calling,” says pianist and organist John “Papa” Gros. “That's what I have been doing and that's what I’ll do with the rest of my life.”

New Orleans native John “Papa” Gros (pronounced grow) has been celebrating the Crescent City’s culture with the world for over three decades. His third solo album Central City, out on April 17th, is the latest chapter in the singer and pianist’s lifelong tribute to his city’s diverse musical legacy. The album is an upbeat collection of classic New Orleans party songs, both new and old, filtered through Gros’ dedication to his craft.
With exquisite songwriting and real deal musicianship, Central City is sure to lift the spirits of everyone from lifelong New Orleans music fans to revelers wanting to pass a good time.

John "Papa" Gros

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