Led by Wild Man Tajh Derosier of the Golden Sioux Tribe, Grammy-nominated Cha Wa, a Mardi Gras funk band, illuminates a vibrant night of inspiration with a loving vibe and New Orleans music.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 03-06-2025
In today’s dark world, we need all the joy and light we can muster on any given night. Presented by the Center for the Art of Performance UCLA (CAP UCLA) at The Nimoy, Cha Wa, a Mardi Gras funk band from New Orleans, provided the perfect relief on Saturday, March 1, 2025. From start to finish, the show was so enjoyable and inspiring that everyone reading the review should write down the name of this band in a safe place. The next time Cha Wa, led by lead singer Wild Man Tajh Derosier of the Golden Sioux Tribe on the tenor saxophone, comes to town, this fabulous experience should not be missed.
Indeed, an audience member with an intriguing balance of enthusiasm and education, Pamona Alexander, who has a Master of Management in Library and Information Science (MMLIS) from USC, further illuminated the significance of Cha Wa in a greater historical context. Alexander explains the band’s roots with The Hollywood Times:
“American popular music has its roots planted in the Creole/Cajun culture in Louisiana. Enslaved Africans combined complex polyrhythms with the European classical music structure tradition. There cannot be jazz, blues, rock, and rap without this Gumbo soup of sounds. Mardi gras is the most celebrated tradition in the bayou. It’s a time for joy and to celebrate what came before, and Cha Wa opens the door to that joyful celebration.”
Moreover, as the New Orleans Advocate highlights in an article quoted by CAP UCLA, “Cha Wa intertwines Mardi Gras Indian Rhythms and chants, brass band horns, funk grooves, and other strands of New Orleans music to create something both familiar and fresh.”
Celebrated for their Grammy-nominated albums Spyboy and My People, Cha Wa is another exemplary example of CAP UCLA’s incredible programming. From top to bottom, the band is incredibly talented, with the following players taking the stage:
- Wild Man Tajh Derosier on Tenor Saxophone and Vocals
- Cameron Clark on Trumpet and Vocals
- Joe Gelini on Drums and Background Vocals
- Jay Sutton on Bass and Background Vocals
- Matt Kruft on Guitar
- Rik Fletcher on Organ
Beyond these diverse and talented players, the night featured exciting surprises, including award-winning composer Chris Pappas on Guitar and Background Vocals. Perhaps the most intoxicating moment was when rock and blues guitarist Anders Osborne took the stage. An accomplished performer with seventeen albums to his credit, Osborne dueled musically with Wild Man Tajh Derosier in a brilliant back-and-forth between guitar and saxophone, then guitar and tambourine. The joy on both faces was undeniable, and the solos blew away the musicians on stage.
Indeed, it was fantastic for Cha Wa to bring the unstoppable energy of New Orleans to Los Angeles by leading the audience on an inspiring journey through the city’s musical roots. Expressing the spirit of the night and the energy of the emboldened audience, Pamona Alexander said with a smile, “I set myself free from the fear of being judged harshly because I was enjoying the moment. The pounding drum beat and complex horn playing allowed The Nimoy to become a house party and a healing sanctuary.”
In this day and age, a healing sanctuary of joyful music is what we all need.
Photos Courtesy of photographer Jim Brock at www.eyeonthemusic.com