Two Grammy award-winning New Orleans born Hip Hop icons Darrius “Deezle” Harrison and Adam “BlaqNmilD” Pigott will be joining NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison Jr., famed jazz trumpet/instrumentalist Dr. Eddie Henderson, and other musicians on Wednesday, July 5, for the annual fundraising concert to support the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.
A tribute to the jazz camp’s former Artistic Director the late Sir Edward Kidd Jordan, the concert will be held at the George & Joyce Wein Cultural Center, 1225 N. Rampart Street. Jazz camp faculty members including Darrell Lavigne, piano; Dwight Fitch, piano; Brian Quezergue, electric bass; Chris Severin, upright bass; Jonathan Bloom, percussions; Herman Lebeau, drums; Don Vappie, guitar; Roderick Paulin, saxophone; Marlon Jordan, trumpet; Andrew Baham, trumpet; Joel Dyson, vocals; Breonna Jordan, swing dance and Norman Dixon Jr. second line dance are part of the evening’s entertainment.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. Concert begin at $50. A tax-deductible donation of $125 provides admission to a 6 p.m. Pre-Concert Reception which includes an open bar, supper and a special performance by student musicians. Tickets are available through louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com or at the door.
Pigott is one of the most influential music creators in the region helping shape the careers of Big Freedia, Magnolia Shorty, 5thWard Weebie, Josephine Johnny, JaSizzle, Partners-N-Crimeand many others. He has also produced for the likes of Juvenile, Master P, UTP Skip and the Soul Rebels. Pigott produced global chart toppers “In My Feelings” and “Nice For What” for Drake and the Top 20 soundtrack single “Ride or Die” with Megan Thee Stallion and Vickeelo. Pigott was also among the writers credited in Beyonce’s lead-off single “Break My Soul,” for which he won a 2023 Grammy in the Best Dance Electronic Recording category.
Harrison has sold more than 75 million records. His shared producing credits include co-authoring Drake’s hit “In My Feelings”, engineering Chris Brown’s single “Gimme That” and “Graffiti,” and co-producing Lil Wayne’s hit single “Lollipop” which led to a Grammy win in the Best Rap Songwriter category. Harrison also produced Lil Wayne’s hit album “ThaCarter III” which led to a win in the Best Rap Album Producer category. He also shared co-producing credit with Kanye West on “Let the Beat Build.”
Almost 50 aspiring young musicians ages 14 to 21 have been the beneficiaries of intense, one-on-one training at this year’s camp which is being held at Loyola University. The camp will conclude with a free Culminating Concert Friday, July 7, at Loyola’s Roussel Hall in the Communications and Music Complex, 6363 St. Charles Avenue. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
