Music picked me: Westport musician releases new album with New Orleans band Cha Wa
Keith Loria
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Westport native Joe Gelini leads the Grammy-nominated band Cha Wa.Courtesy of Joe Gelini /
Growing up in Westport, Joe Gelini knew he wanted to be a musician. His parents, who were both big music fans, took him to concerts at an early age and encouraged him to pick up an instrument.
“I often say this wasn’t a choice: music picked me,” Gelini said. “From a very early age, I was infatuated with music. I was able to play in school bands and orchestras, though I didn’t think of it as a possible career until high school. But there wasn’t one other thing that I was interested in.”
Music picked me: Westport musician releases new album with New Orleans band Cha Wa
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Music picked me: Westport musician releases new album with New Orleans band Cha Wa
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LEILA FADEL, HOST:
And finally today, even though this year s Mardi Gras didn t feature the usual crowded musical parade, a new album is bringing the culture and celebration of New Orleans directly to you.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, WILDMAN )
CHA WA: (Singing) Wildman running around, take me down, take me down. See Wildman running around.
FADEL: That s Wildman by the funk band Cha Wa, which means, we re coming for you. It s a celebratory phrase often used by Mardi Gras Indians, and it s a reference to the vibrant, in-your-face style that s featured throughout this album. And here to tell us more about it is bandleader Joe Gelini and lead singer Joseph Boudreaux Jr.