Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses
When
Occurs on
Saturday April 22 2023
Approximate running time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Venue
Shea Center for Performing Arts
William Paterson University- Shea Center
300 Pompton Rd
Wayne NJ 07470
William Paterson University- Shea Center
300 Pompton Rd
Wayne NJ 07470
Event Notes
×
Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses are a boisterous, horn-driven, 10-piece New Orleans-style band known for their energetic performances that raise the roof and bring audiences to their feet. Their eclectic and rowdy style crosses several genres, from big band and swing to rock and blues, combining original music from their two albums with tail-shakin’ and foot stompin’ favorites from the five-decade career of Louis Prima Sr. With the band’s collective talents and diverse musical tastes, their shows have a sound that is unique while staying true to the vintage Prima style.
Music critics have described Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses as “changing the face of ‘big band’ music by combining facets of swing, rock and soul and packing it into one giant punch,” “unafraid to breach the vast divide between the golden age of jazz and big band music and hard-hitting rock and roll” and taking “the robust, swinging jump-blues style of his father and [driving] it up a notch with a contemporary energy of his own.”
Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses bring new energy and a current attitude to audiences with what has been called “the wildest show this side of the 60s.” The powerhouse band have recorded two albums, with a third one due out in 2022. “Return of the Wildest!” (2012) and “Blow” (2014) were both produced on the Warrior Records label and distributed by Universal Music Group. “Return of the Wildest!” features Prima Jr. and the band performing 10 Louis Prima Sr. classics with a razor-sharp rock-and-roll edge. “Blow” captures the energy and wild fun of a live show with 11 tracks including eight original songs written by Prima Jr. In its first week, “Blow,” which was recorded at Capitol Records, was the most-added album on American jazz radio and debuted in the CMJ Jazz Chart’s Top 25 and the iTunes’ Top 15 jazz.
Prima Jr. is the son of legendary entertainer Louis Prima, known for his New Orleans-flavored music and lively performances. Prima had a career that spanned five decades and included record-breaking contracts to perform in Las Vegas where legends such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Louis Armstrong would regularly jump on stage with the entertainer and his band. His popularity was so great at one point that he was asked to perform at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. His classic “Sing, Sing, Sing” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he won the first ever Music Group Grammy for “That Old Black Magic” and his classic “Jump, Jive ‘an Wail” went on to start a swing revolution in the 90s.
“Louis Prima Jr. ... [has] serious swing chops and dynamite entertainment value, just like his old man, without a doubt.... a New Orleans jazz-soaked trumpeter like his dad... Louis Jr. takes the Prima family lineage into the 21st century.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer “A rip-roaring, jump-jiving time....... The… swingster is more than just an entertainer. He plays a mean trumpet, as well as piano and drums, and emulates his father to a tee.” - NJ.com
“This guy leads a band that makes the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy band sound like Kenny G in comparison.” - Jazz Weekly
Reserved Seating: Gold Circle $50 . Orchestra $45 . Front Loge $45 . Rear Loge $37 . Senior and WP Community 10%, Group 15% discounts are available, please call or visit the box office.
Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. There is an additional $5 charge PER TICKET if purchased at the box office on the evening of the show.
Additional discounts may be available by calling the Box Office.
There is a $4 per order fee for all sales not made in person at the Box Office.
Box Office hours are Monday and Friday 10 am - 2 pm, Tuesday through Thursday 10 am - 5 pm and one hour prior to the event.
There is a $5 per order fee for mailed or printed tickets. E-Tickets/Print at Home tickets are included in the purchase price.
Discounts are limited to a maximum of 2 tickets. All additional tickets will be at the full public price.
All programs, artists, dates, policies, prices and times subject to change.
Valid government photo ID required for all transactions.
Lobby opens 60 minutes prior to event.
Late Seating is at the discretion of the management. Late Seating is not available for all events.
No Refunds or Exchanges. All Sales Are Final.
Please remember to advise our box office of wheelchair or other special needs prior to purchasing your tickets so that we may better assist you.
Music critics have described Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses as “changing the face of ‘big band’ music by combining facets of swing, rock and soul and packing it into one giant punch,” “unafraid to breach the vast divide between the golden age of jazz and big band music and hard-hitting rock and roll” and taking “the robust, swinging jump-blues style of his father and [driving] it up a notch with a contemporary energy of his own.”
Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses bring new energy and a current attitude to audiences with what has been called “the wildest show this side of the 60s.” The powerhouse band have recorded two albums, with a third one due out in 2022. “Return of the Wildest!” (2012) and “Blow” (2014) were both produced on the Warrior Records label and distributed by Universal Music Group. “Return of the Wildest!” features Prima Jr. and the band performing 10 Louis Prima Sr. classics with a razor-sharp rock-and-roll edge. “Blow” captures the energy and wild fun of a live show with 11 tracks including eight original songs written by Prima Jr. In its first week, “Blow,” which was recorded at Capitol Records, was the most-added album on American jazz radio and debuted in the CMJ Jazz Chart’s Top 25 and the iTunes’ Top 15 jazz.
Prima Jr. is the son of legendary entertainer Louis Prima, known for his New Orleans-flavored music and lively performances. Prima had a career that spanned five decades and included record-breaking contracts to perform in Las Vegas where legends such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Louis Armstrong would regularly jump on stage with the entertainer and his band. His popularity was so great at one point that he was asked to perform at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. His classic “Sing, Sing, Sing” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he won the first ever Music Group Grammy for “That Old Black Magic” and his classic “Jump, Jive ‘an Wail” went on to start a swing revolution in the 90s.
“Louis Prima Jr. ... [has] serious swing chops and dynamite entertainment value, just like his old man, without a doubt.... a New Orleans jazz-soaked trumpeter like his dad... Louis Jr. takes the Prima family lineage into the 21st century.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer “A rip-roaring, jump-jiving time....... The… swingster is more than just an entertainer. He plays a mean trumpet, as well as piano and drums, and emulates his father to a tee.” - NJ.com
“This guy leads a band that makes the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy band sound like Kenny G in comparison.” - Jazz Weekly
Reserved Seating: Gold Circle $50 . Orchestra $45 . Front Loge $45 . Rear Loge $37 . Senior and WP Community 10%, Group 15% discounts are available, please call or visit the box office.
Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. There is an additional $5 charge PER TICKET if purchased at the box office on the evening of the show.
This performance is being sold to full capacity. Please take your personal comfort level into consideration prior to purchasing tickets.
Additional discounts may be available by calling the Box Office.
There is a $4 per order fee for all sales not made in person at the Box Office.
Box Office hours are Monday and Friday 10 am - 2 pm, Tuesday through Thursday 10 am - 5 pm and one hour prior to the event.
There is a $5 per order fee for mailed or printed tickets. E-Tickets/Print at Home tickets are included in the purchase price.
Discounts are limited to a maximum of 2 tickets. All additional tickets will be at the full public price.
All programs, artists, dates, policies, prices and times subject to change.
Valid government photo ID required for all transactions.
Lobby opens 60 minutes prior to event.
Late Seating is at the discretion of the management. Late Seating is not available for all events.
No Refunds or Exchanges. All Sales Are Final.
Please remember to advise our box office of wheelchair or other special needs prior to purchasing your tickets so that we may better assist you.