Seva Venet

Seva Venet is one of the top traditional banjoists in America. Introduced to the New Orleans traditional jazz style while playing several years in a band in L.A. with Mike McClelland, Seva moved to New Orleans from Los Angeles. The music and culture there changed his life.

He worked with Tuba Fats and His Chosen Few for four years with many long days in Jackson Square. He had an extended engagement at Donna's Bar and Grill, and did a myriad of other gigs including second-line parades, French Quarter Fest, Satchmo Fest, and Krewe du Vieux, to name a few.

It was during his time with Tuba Fats that he was introduced to many of the local greats including Greg Stafford, Leroy Jones and the "King of Treme."Shannon Powell. After playing with Seva, Powell said: "I came up with Danny Barker! You sound like Danny Barker! Get a gitjo [a 6- string banjo] and come by my house...were going to record." By the time Tuba passed in 2004, Seva began working as a sideman with legendary groups and musicians like Lionel Ferbos, the Treme Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Greg Stafford, Tommy Sancton, Lars Edegran, Clive Wilson.

Today Seva leads his own band, The Storyville Stringband, and continues to work as a sideman with other New Orleans greats.

In 2007 he released his debut CD "What's in the Bag" with a follow up in 2008: "Mens Working" a Jazzology/GHB release. In 2010 his band the Storyville Stringband had its debut CD release with "Seva Venet presents the Storyville Stringband - Live at the Pavilion of Two Sisters" and in January 2013 the Storyville Stringband released its first studio CD "My Bayou Home" featuring 11 new Venet originals.