Take Me to the River: New Orleans

A Benefit Concert for the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival

Inspired by the award-winning documentary Take Me to the River: New Orleans, the concert brings together an extraordinary ensemble of New Orleans talent, including Cyril Neville, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr., Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Omari Neville, Ian Neville, Robert Mercurio, Joe Ashlar, Brian Richburg Jr., and filmmaker Martin Shore. Their performance will showcase the rich musical traditions, cross-generational collaborations, and cultural depth that define New Orleans music.

This event also highlights the deep connections between New Orleans and the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. Saxophonist Charles Neville, a longtime Western Massachusetts resident and member of the legendary Neville Brothers, is featured in the Take Me to the River film and was integral to the festival’s early years. Members of the Neville family performing in this concert continue that lineage, celebrating a musical culture that has shaped both communities.