New Orleans Vocalist John Boutte in Calgary

live blues, Canada

John Boutte
Friday, April 4
Southwood United Church, Calgary

Torch, jazz, soul and Gospel mark vocalist’s show

New Orleans vocalist John Boutte travels to Calgary to perform on Friday, April 4 at 8:00pm at the Southwood United Church. Presented by Fish Creek Concerts and the Calgary Folk Music Festival, Boutte, who is renowned for his torch jazz, soul and Gospel sound, will be appearing in concert with guitarist Paul Sanchez.

John Boutte grew up in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans in a Creole family. During his school days John played coronet and trumpet in marching bands and sang with street a capella groups, "Spirit" and "Remnant." During these years traditional jazzmen like Paul Babarin, Louis "Big Eye" Nelson and Danny Barker became both John's friends and mentors.

Upon graduating from Xavier University, John was commissioned as officer in the U. S. Army, where he directed and sang in the Army gospel choirs in Virginia, Texas and, eventually, Korea. When John returned to New Orleans he joined the new generation of musicians such as Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, Nicholas Payton and Bryan Blade, opening shows for the likes of Mel Torme, Lou Rawls, Rosemary Clooney and, most recently, Herbie Hancock.

Boutte has released three CD's, Through the Eyes of A Child, Scotch and Soda and Jambalaya. Gospel United, a concert recording arranged in Denmark, contains Boutte’s remarkable solo arrangement of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, which has achieved Gold Record status in several European markets.