Biography
Rockin' Jake has left a vivid mark in New Orleans, a city that balances its love of blues with a taste for celebration, thanks to his intense harmonica work. Offbeat Magazine presented him its Best of the Beat Award for Best Blues Harmonica on two occasions, first in 1996 and then in 1999. Born Jake Jacobs, he drew early inspiration from blues harpist Little Walter. His group made its initial professional appearance in 1995 at Mardi Gras, performing at the venue now called the House of the Rising Sun, which had once operated as a Bourbon Street house of ill repute. In the years that followed, Rockin' Jake and his ensemble developed a devoted audience while providing backing for Tab Benoit, Guitar Slim, Billy Boy Arnold, and poet John Sinclair. They also served as opening acts for the Neville Brothers, Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Dr. John, and Branford Marsalis. Roughly twelve months after assembling the band, he issued his debut album, Let's Go Get 'Em, on Rabadash Records. By 1999 he was operating his own Zuluzu Records label, releasing the follow-up album Badmouth and launching tours that reached Germany and St. Thomas along with U.S. stops in New England, Texas, and Florida, many of which sold out. In the 1980s he spent an extended stretch on the road with vocalist Maria Muldaur, and he later collaborated with New Orleans-born blues singer Marva Wright. During the 1990s he rejoined Muldaur and worked with Crescent City greats Tommy Ridgley, Eddie Bo, and Oliver Morgan, in addition to touring with T.J. Wheeler and G. Love & Special Sauce. After his first CD appeared, he performed at festivals and clubs throughout the U.S. and abroad, including dates in the Caribbean and Scandinavia. His résumé also covers commercial work and contributions to the soundtracks of The Mike Ditka Show and The Big Easy. One of his honors recognizes a non-musical skill that proved equally heated: after defeating other entrants in the New Orleans Musicians Barbeque Competition, he captured the 1999 prize for Best Barbequed Brisket. He subsequently marketed a hot sauce named Badmouth after one of his albums. His current lineup features Coco Robichaux, Brint Anderson, and Mem Shannon.