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Papa Mali
Funk / Soul / Psychedelic



Relax. Yes, it’s strange, but open your mind, You’ve entered the altered state of Papa
Mali

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Last Login:  11/24/2009
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   Papa Mali: General Info
Member Since7/26/2005
Band Websitehttp://www.papamali.com
Band MembersMalcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne- (guitar, vocals)

Papa Mali is a singer/songwriter, a guitarist and producer. He was born Malcolm Welbourne in Vicksburg, Mississippi and grew up on the banks of Bayou Pierre in Shreveport, Louisiana. With a travelling salesman father and both older siblings grown, he spent a great part of his youth and teenage years living with his grandparents on Fountainbleau St. in New Orleans.

A musician since early childhood, he witnessed many of the city's legendary performers in their heyday:

Dr. John Creaux, The Nite Tripper

Dr. John, The Night Tripper

The Meters

The Meters

James Booker, and many more.

At the age of 13, he met North Louisiana bluesman

John Johnny Slim Campbell

Johnny 'Slim' Campbell

who schooled him in the ways of traditional Delta Blues guitar styles - fingerpicking, bottleneck and open tunings. His influence was immeasurable in helping the young guitarist carve out his unorthodox approach, which has been described as "primitive modern" and "voodoo electronica".

He has been a touring musician since his late teens, cutting his teeth with soul singers, blues bands and funk ensembles throughout the south, and later touring nationally and internationally with

The Killer Bees, Scratch the Surface, 1985 Beehive Records

The Killer Bees, one of the first American bands ever invited to play Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica in 1987.

It was around this time, while on tour with The Burning Spear Band, that he received the nickname Papa Mali, from the reggae pioneers.

Burning Spear, aka Winston Rodney. Reggae forefather. I received my nickname, Papa Mali, while touring with his band in 1986.

Winston Rodney, aka Burning Spear

Though Papa Mali is no longer involved with the reggae scene , over 20 years later, he continues to wear the name with pride.

In 1999 he recorded his first solo outing

My debut, THUNDER CHICKEN, Fog City, 2000

Thunder Chicken, for the prestigious boutique label, Fog City Records, home to Galactic, Mofro, Garage A Trois, Stanton Moore, Tim Bluhm and Ettienne deRocher. Released in early 2000, Playboy magazine called it "the best swamp music since Tony Joe White". Noted music journalist, Thom Jurek, calls it "one of the few truly wild and unruly records to come from the rock & roll tradition in the 21st century". He continues: "it feels like Buddy Guy fronting the Rolling Stones on Midnight Rambler."

Two years ago he released the long awaited Fog City follow-upMy most recent release, DO YOUR THING, Fog City 2007

Do Your Thing, featuring some of New Orleans most beloved musicians:

Kirk Joseph, Papa Mali  Henry Butler Kirk Joseph - founding member and groundbreaking sousaphonist for The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - and Henry Butler, who carries on the tradition of such great New Orleans piano players as James Booker, Professor Longhair and Huey 'Piano' Smith

Papa Mali and Big Cheif Monk Boudreaux... photo by Dan Prothero and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, of The Golden Eagles and Wild Magnolias fame. Both records were produced by Dan Prothero and garnered rave reviews.

Click on the screen below, for a brief documentary that takes you inside the studio and behind the scenes, for the making of Papa Mali's latest record, "DO YOUR THING" .... Papa Mali also produced Ruthie Foster's 2007 release

As producer THE PHENOMENAL RUTHIE FOSTER, Blue Corn, 2007

"The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster", putting the soul singer on the national and international charts, and cementing his reputation as a world class producer. For more of his studio work, check out the MySpace photo album titled 'A Papa Mali Selected Discography'.

Papa Mali appears in the feature length documentary New Orleans: Music in Exile, by award winning director Robert Mugge, which premiered on the Starz cable network and may see theatrical release. Papa is featured in performance w/ Cyril Neville and being interviewed about post-Katrina New Orleans. We also recommend you check out Mugge's excellent Sun Ra documentary A Joyful Noise as well as Black Wax (wherein Gil Scott Heron philosophises in a wax museum) whenever the opportunity arises.

one of several films Papa Mali has appeared in.

He continues to tour 200 - 250 days a year, and regularly shares the stage with many of his musical mentors and heroes. For example: Two recent US tours with BB King.

Papa Mali salutes BB King after a set of regal blues. Nov,.2007

Above, Papa salutes The King after a set of regal blues!

Four tours with slide guitar virtuoso, Derek Trucks.

Papa Mali and Derek Trucks

Above: Papa Mali and Derek Trucks

A European tour with Cyril Neville (of Neville Bros and Meters fame).

Cyril Neville  Tribe 13 featured guest Papa Mali in Bremen Aug 2007

Above: Papa Mali takes a curtain call in Bremen, Germany with Cyril Neville and Tribe 13 (Cyril wearing tie-dye)click on photo for larger image

Papa Mali is a regular feature at many of the top festivals in the US and overseas, including: Bonnaroo,

Papa at Bonnaroo.

Above, Papa rocks Bonnaroo, 2004

Wakarusa, High Sierra, 10,000 Lakes, Austin City Limits, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Joshua Tree, Jamcruise, Warren Haynes Mountain Jam, The Allman Bros Wanee Fest, Oregon Country Faire, Bluescruise, Ottawa Blues Fest, and many more. He is regularly featured in 'allstar groups'

With The Everyone Orchestra ( feat. Jon Fishman and Marco Benevetto)

Above, with The Everyone Orchestra (feat. Jon Fishman and Marco Benevetto)

and onstage jams with the likes of Galactic, Willie Nelson, Govt. Mule, Widespread Panic, The Dirty Dozen, Marcia Ball, Page McConnell and Jon Fishman (Phish), George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli (Meters) and too many others to list.

With Peruvian Pedicurists (feat. George Porter Jr., Robert Walter and Col Bruce Hampton)

Above, The Peruvian Pedicurists (feat. George Porter Jr. and Col. Bruce Hampton)

And just in the last year Papa has formed a close friendship and musical alliance with Grateful Dead drummer, Bill Kreutzmann.

altered states of america...papa mali and bill kreutzmann on keseys farm - summer 2008

The unlikely pair have since played several amazing concerts together with more on the horizon.p>bill kreutzmann and some groovy looking guitar player rock out for a few friends in san francisco, 1967

(above)Bill, Phil and Jerry, 1967.

--------------------------------------------------------

PEOPLE SAY...

Here's what others have been saying about Papa Mali and his recorded output for years:

"one of the few truly wild and unruly records to come from the rock & roll tradition in the 21st century" (allmusic.com)

____________________________

‘‘ Who are these dudes? Havent heard swamp music this good since Tony Joe White. Papa definitely has Spanish moss on his antlers" — Lee Froelich, Playboy Magazine

______________________________

‘‘ laced with the kind of New Orleans groove that would make Dr. John proud" — Jay Mazza, The Louisiana Weekly

______________________________

"one of the first great albums of 2007, and quite possibly one for the ages." (jambase.com)

_______________________________

‘‘Papa Mali conjures up a potent gris-gris bag of tribal rhythms and true New Orleans-style funk, peppered with judicious touches of slide guitar and more than a bit of bayou joie de vivre. The vocals are delivered with a soulful swagger, almost as if Jimi Hendrix had been raised in the swamps on a steady diet of James Brown, the Meters and scratchy Delta blues. A raucous, insinuating debut" — New Orleans Gambit Weekly _______________________________

Dan Phillips, DJ, music historian, collector of rare New Orleans records, author and host of Home of the Groove had this to say about Papa Mali and his most recent release, 'Do Your Thing': "...reverb drenched and echoplexed; overdriven and vibrant as a fever dream or lowdown, dark and ominous as moonless midnight in the South Louisiana swamp, this is a deep summer, windows open, still sweaty at midnight, heat lightning playing tricks with your mind kind of record, to be enjoyed and explored after indulging in this or that effective intoxicant of choice, or however you wish to free your mind." He continues: "This man learned serious stuff from the late John Campbell*, a blues/voodooist so intense that it still spooks me to listen to his records. As I’ve said, Papa Mali’s influences are manifold; and I could go on. But I think his modus operandi can be simply summed up. He makes music spontaneously overflowing with the spirit of the old (and, we hope, the new) New Orleans and the re-imagined Louisiana of his youth."-----------------------

"Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne is the kind of local character that would be genuinely iconic anywhere else. Here in his adopted New Orleans, though, where we historically curate a stellar permanent collection of freaks, oddities and twisted brilliance, he simply fits right in. That's not faint praise, either. The psychedelic swamp sounds on Do Your Thing are New Orleans inside and out...a magically crafted grimoire of voodoo space blues. Reminiscent of Night Tripper-era Dr. John All in all, a powerful, glowing globe of swamp gas. " - New Orleans Gambit -------------------------------- "as an example of pure modern pop-rock originality, Papa Mali should be an institution. And institutionalized." - Pittsburgh City Paper ---------------------------------------------------------------- "a thing of aural beauty... a fascinating glimpse into Papa Mali's visceral vision and spell-casting." - Austin Chronicle -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘‘ Any fan of New Orleans music needs to buy this CD as soon as humanly possible." - Hittin' The Note -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘‘ This driving, echo-drenched polyrhythmic joy ride transforms the traditional Mardi Gras march into a contemporary slice of voodoo electronica." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Papa Mali's latest album documents his pre-Katrina New Orleans summit with some of the city's most celebrated and talented players, brought together with one request: Do your thing. More than a recording session, the atmosphere that developed feels almost like a seance, as friends gather in a circle and invoke the ghosts of their pasts... look deeper, and you can almost see those spirits weaving through the air like curls of smoke, conjuring visions of snake handlers and tent revivals, spy boys and street parades, proceeding with a broke-leg swagger to a place that's less about being funky and more about being Southern. Do your thing! Beyond that, this record is a long overdue homecoming for Papa Mali, a Louisiana native. Growing up in Shreveport, he spent his summers in New Orleans with his grandparents, soaking up the musical flavor and witnessing the heyday of The Meters, The Wild Tchopitoulas, James Booker, Professor Longhair and most of the city's now-legendary acts. Although he himself has been playing the clubs of New Orleans for over 20 years, this recording makes the connection to his musical roots more obvious. Featured guests for the journey are representatives from three of the Crescent City's deepest traditions -- Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles, Henry Butler, and Kirk Joseph -- as well as Victoria Williams (also a Shreveport native) and Chuck Prophet."  

Record LabelFog City Records
Type of LabelIndie


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   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Oct 31 2009 11:00P
LAS TORTUGAS -DANCE OF THE DEAD IV Groveland, California
Nov 13 2009 6:00P
Papa Mali at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival Tallahassee, Florida

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   About Papa Mali

THIS WEEKEND IN NEW ORLEANS!!! < p>LABOR DAY SHOW - Traffic Jam 2009

CHECK OUT THIS HOME MADE VIDEO - taken just a few days ago at my daughter's house in South Austin, on her 21st birthday...that's her with the cowboy hat, dancin' with her boyfriend...SOUTH AUSTIN LULLABY, by special request from Sherry Pye, who was filming....real down home, real South Austin.

South Austin Lullaby

On May 22nd and May 24th, following the Dead Reunion Tour, PAPA MALI once again joined forces with Bill Kreutzmann, Hutch Hutchinson and Matt Hubbard for headlining slots at

SCHWAGSTOCK BELLA MADRE POSTER

SCWAGSTOCK 2009 and BELLA MADRE MUSIC FESTIVAL (click to enlarge)

On December 29th and 31st, 2008, Papa Mali and Bill Kreutzmann, legendary drummer for the Grateful Dead, performed two concerts in Paia, Maui, Hawaii(click below).

Papa Mali teams up with Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead.

They were joined on bass and keys by Hutch Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt) and Matt Hubbard (Willie Nelson)

If you were one of those lucky enough to attend the shows over Halloween 2008 (click on posters, above) or NYE, you won't want to miss their upcoming mainland appearances. There are already plans for more shows together following the Dead tour this spring and summer - stay tuned!

Bill Kreutzmann, my compadre, confidant and fearless drummer extraordinaire for The Grateful Dead. so your saying that the atomic weight of a black hole is equal to the quantum mass of the supernova that preceded it?

Bill Kreutzmann and Papa Mali - pictured (above) at The Oregon Country Fair, July 2008 and (below) performing an acoustic set in Maui, November 2008

with Papa Mali

PAPA MALI TO PERFORM AT LOVE YOUR MOTHER EARTH FESTIVAL, JUNE 6, 2009 http://www.earthboundproductions.org medium love... ________________________________________________________________

PAPA MALI AND GOVT MULE!

(below) Papa and Cyril Neville (Neville Bros, Meters) join Warren Haynes and Govt Mule onstage during the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Papa says: "Being asked to play with the 'Mule was a thrill. Warren was so gracious, inviting me down to soundcheck to get comfortable with the tunes and even loaning me one of his priceless vintage Les Pauls."         ..    

Below: Papa Mali, filmed live at Tipitina's in New Orleans, performing the title track from his latest record, 'Do Your Thing'. With Robb Kidd on drums and Kevin T. White on bass. (from the film, 'Chasing the Groove: A New Orleans Funkumentary'


   Papa Mali's Friend Space (Top 39)
Papa Mali has 9297 friends.
 SNOOZY BOOTS 


 megan rose 


 Malcolm Elijah 


 mr. party pants 


 Bill Kreutzmann 


 Dr. John The Nite Tripper 


 Dr. John 


 Cyril Neville & Tribe 13 


 KIRK JOSEPH'S BACKYARD GROOVE 


 Big Chief Monk Boudreaux 


 Gurf Morlix 


 Willie Nelson 


 Carolyn Wonderland 


 Galactic 


 George Porter Jr 


 BB King Fanspace 


 DUMPSTAPHUNK 


 Henry Butler 


 The New Mastersounds 


 Ruthie Foster 


 The Felice Brothers 


 Big Chief Alfred Doucette 


 Warren Haynes 


 The Derek Trucks Band 


 Bernie Worrell 


 Big Sam’s Funky Nation 


 LEO NOCENTELLI 


 The Wild Tchoupitoulas 


 GANG FLAG 


 Big Chief Kevin and the Flaming Arrows 


 Gibson 


 New Orleans Historic VOODOO MUSEUM 


 Wardell Quezergue 


 10,000 Lakes Festival 


 WWOZ 90.7 FM 


 Tipi 


 New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund 


 CRESCENDO ARTISTS 


 Fog City Records 





Papa Mali's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 1959 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Vern Gosdin - 40 Years of The Voice

Vern Gosdin - 40 Years of The Voice



Nov 23 2009 4:29 PM

Shakey Bean

Shakey Bean



Nov 23 2009 4:29 PM

hope to see you around:)    
MySpace Comments                      peace luv-a-dub n funk!
                   
music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 23 2009 4:28 PM

New tracks out!









JaBeaux

JaBeaux GrooveMaster



Nov 23 2009 4:28 PM

the dance Pictures, Images and Photos Well
Buckaroos, it's Time to get your Groove on and enjoy this upcoming
week! Be Thankful that we can unleash our Mojo and Dance until we Drop
or fall into someone's arms and then the Holidays will really start to
kick off!  I just feel it all up inside of me and I'm going to let it
Flow soon!! I'm going to unleash the Boogie on Bad Dog Radio this
Turkey Day at High Noon MST and Party to 4pm MST and I'm going to do it
Naked! Lock the doors and just have one Hell of a Time...Come and join
me, Tune In and Turn It Up!! www.kafmradio.org

The Boogie is On!
Bad Influence

Bad Influence
Online Now!


Nov 19 2009 3:15 PM

It's a great honor to be one of your fiends
Thanks for your music and inspiration
we love the way that your music gone
greetings from germany home of the krauts
peace brother love and happiness
all the best
BI

THX 4 ur LUV
JamBandWagon

JamBandWagon



Nov 19 2009 3:15 PM

Thanks for jumping on the JamBandWagon with us, we are so excited to have you along for the ride! Peace JBW 
Mary-T

Mary-T



Nov 19 2009 3:15 PM

 I'm diggin it Papa!
PERMI..GRIN......

travelin' light



Nov 19 2009 3:14 PM

What a real treat to get to see you and Chris Spies and Robert Mercurio and 
Stanton Moore all playing together on a sunny afternoon in Live Oak. Peace and Love
music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 19 2009 3:14 PM


~MelissaJoe~

Melissa Jo Morgan



Nov 17 2009 6:28 PM

Excellent Show last night Papi!
5 spot was graced by your energy...
One of the tightest Trio sets I have heard!
Great you all could make it to Atlanta!

Lets get you back more often, shall we? :)

Hugs and Jammin, Melissajo~ :)
music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 17 2009 6:28 PM

Have a delightful weekend Papa with a lot of creative vibrations


music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 17 2009 6:28 PM



Have a beautiful week my great friend!!!
The Moan Brothers

The Moan Brothers



Nov 17 2009 6:28 PM

thanxxxxx!





Derek Toomey

Derek Toomey



Nov 17 2009 6:28 PM

Help pick the FREE DOWNLOAD!

Listen to the 10 songs on my myspace player and vote on which song should be available FREE before the CD comes out. Voting ends Nov. 30!
Send me a message or make a comment!
The winning song will be available on myspace as a FREE DOWNLOAD on December 1 !

Thanks!

Derek
TranQuillus

TranQuillus



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM

Just passing through to say what's up. Have a nice day.

Get FREE mp3's at www.tranquillus.net
Timmay!!

Tim Neville



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM

Tortugas was amazing Papa! Hope to see you again before next year California is already missin you
Neal

Neal Barbieri



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM

Ciao,Papa Mali                      
thanks for your friendship,Iam very happy,
you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,
and stupendous voice.
you are certainly one of my favorite, in your musical kind
The feels great admiration for you, 
be really one whom is worth rather to lot!
The hope to listen soon to you, in italy..
talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music,
all the best.. from italy.. and good life.. every day  
neal 
music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM

Have a nice beginning of your week my good friend!


andiwallhog

andiwallhog



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM

Greetings to all of you over there in the Big Easy...OneLove
music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM


music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 13 2009 4:20 PM

Hugs and kisses from Mali


music and art ensemble

music and art ensemble



Nov 13 2009 4:19 PM

Greetings from Germany ...


Teddy Presberg

Teddy Presberg



Nov 7 2009 7:24 PM

Hey hey hey my funky friend,

I just released a new funky album "Outcries from a Sea of Red" which is now available! You can check it out here:

Teddy Presberg: Outcries from a Sea of Red


Hope it treats your ears right!

Keep cool and in touch,

Teddy Presberg
www.teddypresberg.com
Bits and Watts

Bits and Watts



Nov 7 2009 7:24 PM

Have an upcoming show in Philly? Promote it for free on http://www.bitsandwatts.com
RoxyMEow

RoxyMEow



Nov 7 2009 7:24 PM

                                   

Hello friends-
Hard to believe that we are 8 days out till Bear Creek and only 7 days till the pre-festival kickoff party. Just wanted to remind everyone that Bear Creek tickets will increase in price from $140 to $155 tomorrow, November 6. They will be $165 at the gate. VIP tickets are $275 and will remain at that price until the gates open, when they will jump to $350.
Also, we will be hosting a special Bear Creek Saturday Night Costume Contest at the festival. Please dress up and help us keep the spirit of Halloween and Friday the 13th kicking during the festival
See you in a week.

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