View Full Version : Papa Mali - let's get him to play fest!!
swampie
12-18-2006, 06:07 PM
Hi y'all, Swamp Girl here...I just wanted to put in a plug for Papa Mali this year, who I think is one of the best guitar players from New Orleans...Last year I saw him at the Bayou Rendevous with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, and I must say it was the absolute HIGHLIGHT of my Jazz Fest experience!! This man ROCKS, and I really hope that all y'all out there who are PM supporters could rally around this great musician, show him some love, and ask the powers that be to consider putting him on the bill for FEST this year!!
Can I hear a Hell Yeah?!!
breambob
12-18-2006, 06:37 PM
Hell Yeah, swampie. Just to remind y'all that Malcolm is "from" Shreveport. Born in Mississippi and raised here. He visited his grandmother in N.O. often and developed his musical talents around N.O. music. He was a prodigy at 9 years old (or younger), I remember him well during high school because he was the hearthrob of the girls (longest hair in town, musician, etc...). Also a very nice and regular guy... Anybody remember The Killer Bees? Too bad there isn't much recorded from that formative period in his career, it was killer, indeed.
heyhon
12-18-2006, 06:47 PM
I see that he'll be touring with Galactic and stopping in my hometown next month. I'll be sure to check him out.
Amy Winette
12-18-2006, 07:45 PM
Another vote for Papa Mali for sure! Where yat Festydave?? :)
grisgris
12-18-2006, 08:16 PM
He is playing Crawfish Fest again this year.
Corona
12-18-2006, 08:36 PM
oh man, that would be GREAT!! Caught Papa Mali in Dragon Smoke last year during fest and man oh man, he was fantastic!!! Of COURSE he should have a gig at fest!!!!
swampie
12-18-2006, 09:08 PM
Hell Yeah, swampie. Just to remind y'all that Malcolm is "from" Shreveport. Born in Mississippi and raised here. He visited his grandmother in N.O. often and developed his musical talents around N.O. music. He was a prodigy at 9 years old (or younger), I remember him well during high school because he was the hearthrob of the girls (longest hair in town, musician, etc...). Also a very nice and regular guy... Anybody remember The Killer Bees? Too bad there isn't much recorded from that formative period in his career, it was killer, indeed.
OMG, bream...you gave up his real name, eh! Papa Malcolm just doesn't work as well, so that was a good career move on his part... ;)
mightyradgumbo
12-18-2006, 09:30 PM
I will give a big Hell Yeah to Papa Mali, Swampie. He is coming to Boston with Galactic as well and cannot wait to see that show. Psyched to see he is playing Crawfish Fest as well. Fest would be a filler in a Papa Mali Sandwich.
funkkjunkie
12-18-2006, 11:18 PM
The first and best wakarusa of all, the two standouts were Stanton Moore and Papa Mali. They were in a close race for jammer of the fest. They were both sitting in everywhere. His New Orleans style voodoo music should give hiim dibs on taking over the grisgris crown from Dr. John when the time comes.
Amy Winette
12-19-2006, 12:21 AM
So what's up with the "Papa" thing in NOLA -- Papa John, Papa Mali, is there a New Orleans reason for this? Just curiuos.
PAPA M ROCKS!!!
breambob
12-19-2006, 04:43 PM
Malcolm Welbourne was nicknamed Papa Mali by Burning Spear after he spent time in Jamaica getting closer to his reggae roots. I don't think he has actually lived in New Orleans, although he has an apartment their (I think), and relatives. He's been out of Austin and Boulder since he left Shreveport in the mid 80s.
Another Shreveporter I'd like to see at JF is Victoria Williams, in NYC since she left here at after school. Tremendous talent, a very special lady.
So what's up with the "Papa" thing in NOLA -- Papa John, Papa Mali, is there a New Orleans reason for this? Just curiuos.
Poppa Funk
swampie
12-20-2006, 04:02 PM
Malcolm Welbourne was nicknamed Papa Mali by Burning Spear after he spent time in Jamaica getting closer to his reggae roots. I don't think he has actually lived in New Orleans, although he has an apartment their (I think), and relatives. He's been out of Austin and Boulder since he left Shreveport in the mid 80s.
Another Shreveporter I'd like to see at JF is Victoria Williams, in NYC since she left here at after school. Tremendous talent, a very special lady.
thanks for the history, bream...
well, I did make an assumption about him being a "new orleans musician", but I must say that his voodooey (is that a word?) sound is verrrry seductive, and surely reminds me of New Orleans! :) Whatever the case, he is fantastic, and I think has earned the right to play Fest!
Ohhhh Quinnnnnnnnnt!
breambob
12-20-2006, 05:06 PM
Hey, if Marcia Ball (excuse me, Martha...) can play at JF every year then so can Mali. Nothing wrong about bailing out of smalltown LA. for Austin, or anywhere else. A big chunk of of the Louisiana artists at JF are "coming home" in a sense, I could name a dozen in no time. Now, if we could just get Britney Spears and Kix Brooks down there... A boot scootin' big butt boogie :)