Gerald The Giant French

Gerald P. French started playing drums at the age of 5. He is the son of George French, the Frenches being part of the pantheon of illustrious New Orleans musical families. Mr. French attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he was featured in Southern's well respected band.

Mr. French is known as the Giant for his own original style of drumming. He has traveled and performed with hundreds of musicians, treating listeners around the world to his varied style. Harry Connick, Jr., Leroy Jones, Dr. John, Dr. Michael White, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, are just a few of the many groups he has worked with. He has appeared on numerous recordings, movie soundtracks and television scores. For the past 12 years, Gerald has spent the month of August touring in Japan with the New Orleans Allstars. He has been heard on many occasions at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, Montana Jazz Festival, Waiheke Island, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Since 2001, Mr. French has backed the legendary Ms. Charmaine Neville, the darlin' of New Orleans.

Mr. French has been featured in Modern Drummer Magazine (October 1996), and many other publications including American Public Media. He is a fourth generation New Orleans musician and Mardi Gras Indian with the Wild Magnolias. Mardi Gras Indians carry on a 150 year old tradition by dressing head-to-toe in elaborate, beaded costumes that erupt in a spray of brightly colored feathers and parading through the streets of the New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Mr. French's special appearance with Henri Smith will be his only performance in Massachusetts this year.