During New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The Nth Power headed to the Crescent City to take part in the city’s annual weeklong musical celebration. During the first weekend of the festival, the trio presented their tribute to Marvin Gaye, Time To Get It Together.
Performed at One Eyed Jack’s on Saturday, April 27 — or rather, the early morning of Sunday, April 28 — The Nth Power took advantage of the high-profile musicians in town for Jazz Fest. The group’s lineup of Nikki Glaspie, Nate Edgar and Nick Cassarino was augmented by djembe player and vocalist Weedie Braimah and Lettuce keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall. In addition, throughout the tribute, the show was special guest performances from trombonist Paul Robertson, trumpeter Steve Lands and vocalists Chrishira Perrier, Kayla Jasmine, Erin Boyd (also known as Phantom Vanity) and Bryan McNamara.
Across the evening, the band drew from Gaye’s expansive catalog, starting the show with the Cassarino-led “Flyin’ High (In The Friendly Sky)” off What’s Going On, followed by the 1971’s title track, sung by Hall. Other highlights of the show included “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You,” which was sung by Glaspie, as well as upbeat renditions of “I Want You,” the title track of Gaye’s 1976 record, and his feel-good 1977 single “Got To Give It Up.” For an encore, the collective offered a powerful take on “Heard It Through The Grapevine,” sung by Hall, followed by “Heavy Love Affair.” For the final tune of the night, Nigel Hall’s Lettuce bandmate Eric ‘Benny’ Bloom joined the band, first on cowbell and later on trumpet.
Watch the full performance below:
