The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio is a New Orleans band that has rapidly become a fan favorite.
They play acoustic blues, covering the delta style as well as Piedmont and Chicago blues.
Throw in some originals and a little swing and you got one hot outfit. Consisting of
Washboard Chaz on washboard and vocals, Andy J Forest on harmonica and vocals and
St.Louis Slim on guitar, the trio has amazed audiences with its full sound
and the ability to get the crowd up and dancing. The four recordings, 2008's
"Mix It Up", 2006's, "Hard Year Blues", 2004's, "Dog Days" and 2002's, "Courtyard Blues",
capture the authenticity of their sound. The band has performed New Orleans
Jazz and Heritage and French Quarter Festivals. They are also becoming popular in Europe with
regular Summer tours of Italy, France and Switzerland. The Trio has been nominated for many "Best of Blues Awards"
and was OffBeat magazine's Best Emerging Blues Band for 2004. The Trio is a permenant fixture
in New Orleans reknown Frenchmen Street music district, where they play The Spotted Cat,
dba and Blue Nile, where tourists and locals dance to New Orleans' finest musicians. Come on and be next!!
Washboard Chaz Leary - Washboard, Vocals
Internationally acclaimed washboardist, Chaz brings a long list of credits to his band.
Originally from New York, Chaz lived in Boulder, CO from 1975-1997, and played with a
wide variety of bands including the legendary Ophelia Swing Band, Prosperity Jazz Band, BBQ Bob & Washboard Chaz, Judy Roderick and
the Forebears, and Bleecker St. Chaz has shared the stage with Bonnie Raitt, John Hammond, Taj
Mahal, Anders Osborne and Corey Harris among others. He has opened for many bands, including Muddy Waters,
Robert Cray, Doc Watson and Keb Mo. Chaz has been on over 100 recordings, including
John Hammond's 1998 Grammy nominated “Long as I have You”. Chaz was a finalist twice in the KBCO Boulder
songwriting contest in the early 80’s and has been the focus of dozens of newspaper features nationwide
over the years. He has played festivals and clubs from coast to coast, including the Bottom Line in New
York City, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the American Music Hall in San Francisco and Red
Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. He is an international veteran, playing Germany with
Bleecker St., Holland and Germany with David Booker, and in Tokyo Japan in 2006 and 2008.
Since his move to New Orleans in Dec. of 2000, Chaz has played with the cream of New Orleans
musicians, including the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, the Iguanas, Tuba Fats, Royal Fingerbowl, the Jazz
Vipers, the Tin Men, the Palmetoo Bug Stompers and Washboard Rodeo.
Andy J. Forest - Harmonica, Vocals
Born in 1955 in Pullman, Washington, Andy has been playing harmonica and singing
professionally since 1977. He has recorded 7 LPs, 10 cds and two 45s. The reviews in international and local publications have
consistently ranged from positive to rave. Early influences were Sonny Terry, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny
Boy Williamson, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Taj Mahal, and Charlie Musselwhite – to name a
few. He has played on stage with B.B.King, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Shines, Champion Jack DuPree and many
other greats of the Blues. He has written scores of songs, one novel (Letters From Hell) and enjoys modest
success as a folk artist. Andy lived in Europe for ten years, and returned home
to New Orleans in 1991.
Andy played off and on with the Washboard Chaz Blues for a few years,
performing on Chaz's hit CD "Dog Days" and became a full time member of the Trio in 2008.
St. Louis Slim - Guitar and Vocals
Born and raised in, you guessed it, St. Louis,
Slim was playing with some of that town' s blues masters by his late teens.
Since moving to New Orleans in 2001, Slim has played with many bands
including Hot Club of New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz Vipers and his own Swing Soiree.
His finger picking guitar playing and soulful vocals are a welcome addition to the band
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