RHYTHMS OF THE BAYOU

New Orleans-based, drummer and composer Al Lauro was in the late 1970s playing in country musician David Alan Coe’s band, who nicknamed him "Big Al," when he became friends with the band's guitarist Warren Haynes. The two teamed up and formed the Unknown Blues Band, performing intermittently in the region for a few years, though they never recorded. In 1996, Big Al and Haynes founded Big Al and The Heavyweights with pianist Rick Gergen. However, by the time of recording their first album, Big Al was already leading the project solo, he brought together a renowned group of musicians and released  "That Ain't Nice". Over the years, The Heavyweights have had different lineups, on "Love One Another" (2022), Jason Ricci and Luther Dickinson appeared in the album credits. The band has finally been consolidated with the extraordinary lineup including Marcel Anton on guitar, Dale Robertson on harmonica, and bassist Dennis Cedeno, with whom they have recorded their latest work, "Blues Power" (the band has been without keyboards since the passing of long-time member, keyboardist Wayne Lohr). Big Al and The Heavyweights impress from the very first note, their music comes from the swamps of Louisiana, swamp blues, Cajun music and rock'n'roll, Lightnin' Slim, Slim Harpo, and Fats Domino, all bearing the distinctive mark of a band that embodies, like few others, the true spirit of American roots music.