Uncle Nef

In a city that has produced some of the most legendary musicians and revered drummers the world has ever seen, Shannon Powell stands tall in the lineage of New Orleans’ rhythmic giants. He’s also a great singer, invoking styles that echo the churches, street parades and jazz clubs of his hometown. Known quite often these days for his wonderful contributions to tradition and modern jazz idioms, having worked with Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis, Powell is also a veteran of New Orleans' rich rhythm and blues scene having backed up such greats as Snooks Eaglin, Earl King and Dr. John.

Darren Hoffman is a multi-instrumentalist and music producer originally from Miami, Florida, grew up playing guitar in his youth, greatly influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Albert King and Nirvana, but switched to drums when he was bit by the jazz bug in his early twenties and relocated in 2007 to study percussion at the University of New Orleans. Darren began hanging out with Powell at places like Donna’s Bar & Grill on Rampart Street and getting to know the wonderful cast of New Orleans characters that frequented it. The pair hit it off and began a friendship that ventured far from the classroom.

Originally conceived as a one-off project, the once teacher and student duo graduated to musical family and Uncle Nef quickly turned into a band. It finds Shannon diving back into his R&B roots, bringing his shuffling backbeat and lively vocals with Hoffman on electric guitar providing a deep, fat tone and lyrical soloing: think the soul, funk and psychedelic rock of Hendrix's Band of Gypsys combined with the raw grit and drive of the White Stripes and a voice reminiscent of the soulful vocal styles of Ray Charles.