JAZZ FEST: DAVELL CRAWFORD

Davell Crawford is an all-around musical sensation as a pianist and as a singer. Raised in the church, Davell is the grandson of the rhythm & blues star James “Sugar Boy” Crawford, who wrote the New Orleans hit song “Jockomo”, later known as “Iko Iko.” Davell has been playing piano since he was seven years old and although he didn’t know his grandfather was a musician, the elder Crawford gave him a keyboard when he was 11. He first toured Europe in his early teens. Like so many New Orleans musicians, Crawford brings a synthesis of styles to his playing, weaving together funk, gospel, and R&B to his piano playing, songwriting and singing. Bill Taylor from Blues Access proclaims that “Plain and simple, Davell Crawford is one of the most talented musicians alive.”