PSA: Parlor Social returning to Atlanta, GA

PSA: Parlor Social returning to Atlanta, GA

On Saturday April 14th, 2018, Parlor Social will return to Atlanta with a show at Soul Village inside Moods Music Record Store.

PSA: Parlor Social at Charlotte Jazz Festival 2018

PSA: Parlor Social at Charlotte Jazz Festival 2018

Dessy Di Lauro and Ric'key Pageot of Parlor Social head to Charlotte, NC to perform at the Charlotte Jazz Festival on Friday April 13th, 2018.

Lucinda Williams, Snarky Puppy, Jazmine Sullivan & More Slated for 2018 Playboy Jazz Festival

Legendary jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd & the Marvels with special guest Lucinda Williams are on the diverse lineup for the 40th annual Playboy Jazz Festival, along with Anthony Hamilton, Snarky Puppy and Jazmine Sullivan. Presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, the two-day event will take place June 9-10 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Among the additional performers scheduled to appear are Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin, the Ramsey Lewis Quintet, blues icon Roy Gaines and Parlor Social with Dessy Di Lauro x Ric’key Pageot. Fabeled horn section and band Tower of Power will also be on hand to celebrate its 50th anniversary. And an 80th birthday salute to the late jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard will feature Randy Brecker, Nicholas Payton, Jeremy Pelt and David Weiss.

Comedian/actor George Lopez returns for a sixth year as host. For more information about the 2018 Playboy Jazz Festival lineup, including tickets, visit HollywoodBowl.com.

PSA: Parlor Social to perform at Playboy Jazz Festival 2018

PSA: Parlor Social to perform at Playboy Jazz Festival 2018

Parlor Social is set to perform a full set of their speakeasy-soul/ prohibition funk original music at the Playboy Jazz festival (PJF) in the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday June 10, 2018.

PSA: Parlor Social/ The Kinseys to celebrate 100th Anniversary of Harlem Renaissance at the ERT

PSA: Parlor Social/ The Kinseys to celebrate 100th Anniversary of Harlem Renaissance at the ERT

Parlor Social returns to Los Angeles from their successful sold out shows in Montreal to continue the Black History Month celebrations with a performance at the Ebony Repertory Theater (ERT) this Saturday February 17th, 2018. 

PSA: Stevie Wonder crashes an MLK party (cheers)

When you fly over Inglewood, CA on you approach to the runways at LAX, if you look down you will see a large round columned white building next to a half-mile wide hole in the ground.  The hole in the ground is the construction site of a new NFL stadium; the white building is the LA Forum, former home of NBA games and now a major LA music venue. This was the site Monday of King Fest at the Forum, the City of Inglewood’s community celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King.

KingFest at The Forum was not in The Forum; it occupied the northwest corner of the parking lot, which was exactly right for a bright sunny Monday in LA.  There was a cluster of sharp-peaked white tent booths with local town representatives, funeral parlors, social services, African-themed clothes and jewelry, churches, auto dealers, and local politicians. An inflatable climbing wall and a bounce house entertained the kids while parents got free blood pressure tests in a mobile hospital van or grabbed a bite at the food court which featured LA’s Famous Pink’s Hot dogs.

While I am not a resident of Inglewood, I spent much of my childhood there and love the community. But my real reason for attending was the music – a full day of it featuring R&B, gospel, Motown and rock groups from across the city. A large stage dominated the grounds, backed by a banner with MLK’s visage and full lights, sound, green room, security – the works. At 1:30 my friends Dessy Di Lauro  and Ric’key Pageot and their band Parlor Social were due on stage – my focus.

While Parlor Social was setting up I was in the photo pit chatting with folks in the audience. The MC was giving us announcement and updates when a backstage staffer came up to him and engaged in an animated off mic conversation. The MC turned to the crowd and announced that the the owner of KingFest’s sponsor, a local black radio station KJLH 102.3FM, would be here to say hello.

An excited buzz went through the crowd; they knew something I didn’t. People got off their chairs  and crowded against the stage barriers. Ric’key and Dessy stopped warming up and looked dumb-founded as a two men slowly made their way up the rear stage stairs on toward the MC — one middle-aged black man leading another, much taller black man dressed in all black, sunglasses and a stocking cap.

It was Stevie Wonder.

Stevie walked us verbally through the history of the Civil Rights Act and the life of Martin Luther King, and told us that “we are focused on making history reality… we are getting closer, but we are not there yet… unless we are a united people in these United States, we are not united.” He added that “not everyone who says they can sing cannot be a singer and not everyone who says they can be a president…”

Wonder was supposed to introduce the headliner, Faith Evans, but since she was not on the bill until 4:30 and he arrived unannounced at 1:30, she wasn’t there. So he was guided over to Ric’key’s keyboard, ran his fingers over it to get the feel and sang a birthday song to MLK while Ric’key and Dessy frantically pulled out their cell phones and the band’s drummer picked up the beat. Then – and I don’t know how it happened – someone must have whispered into Wonder’s ear that there was a band onstage ready to go called Parlor Social. With Ric’key standing next to him and Dessy on her mark across the stage, Wonder shouted out, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Parlor Social!”

The next thing we heard as the cheering died down was Dessy’s “Oh My God.”

She recovered and launched into a wild set that ranged across the ample stage and held the crowd right up against the fences. Often described as If Cab Calloway, Lauryn Hill and Outkast had a love-child, it would sound like Parlor Social, they bring together jazz, rock, swing, roaring twenties, tap dancing, rap and blues into a musical mélange that is fun to listen to, dance to and see live.  Obviously Stevie Wonder though so because he stayed around for the whole set. 

Stevie Wonder introduces Parlor Social at #KingFest in Inglewood, CA

Stevie Wonder introduces Parlor Social at #KingFest in Inglewood, CA

The one and only Stevie Wonder took time off to go enjoy 102.3FM KJLH's MLK Day KingFest festival and surprised Parlor Social with an expected introduction right before their set.

Parlor Social Announces the Premiere of Their New Musical Revue

Parlor Social Announces the Premiere of Their New Musical Revue

‘THE RENT PARTY’ IS A HARLEM RENAISSANCE RETROFUTURISTIC JUBILEE MUSICAL REVUE CREATED BY DESSY DI LAURO AND RIC’KEY PAGEOT FROM PARLOR SOCIAL WHICH WILL PREMIERE AT THE REVIVED 'MIRACLE THEATER' IN DOWNTOWN INGLEWOOD ON SATURDAY JANUARY 27TH, 2018.

New Year's Ball Sells Out Again at The Edison

Over 500 party-goers descended down to the hottest speakeasy in the city to a sold out Edison bar to ring in 2018 with Parlor Social's live music.  The evening also featured aerialists, tap dancers, DJ, complimentary champagne and much more. This was Parlor Social's second year in a row hosting this extremely popular NYE Ball.

Afropunk: This bewitching neo-ragtime ‘I Put A Spell On You’ cover just got the video treatment

Afropunk: This bewitching neo-ragtime ‘I Put A Spell On You’ cover just got the video treatment

‘Neo-ragtime’ band Parlor Social -Dessy Di Lauro and Ric’key Pageot- have released the visuals for their cover of the classic ‘I Put A Spell On You’.

Grownfolksmusic.com #New Visuals: Parlor Social - I Put A Spell On You (Official Video)

Grownfolksmusic.com #New Visuals: Parlor Social - I Put A Spell On You (Official Video)

This year Halloween didn’t fall on a weekend it went up like the club on a Tuesday or whatever the kids said five years ago… but during this past season of Ghoulie Goblintry we posted a fantastic new take on the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins classic “I Put A Spell On You” by GFM Faves Parlor Social.

LOTL Radio Welcomes Parlor Social. Latest single ‘I Put A Spell On You’

LOTL Radio Welcomes Parlor Social. Latest single ‘I Put A Spell On You’

Call in to ask questions to Parlor Social... PARLOR SOCIAL is back in studio working on their upcoming album set for a release in early 2018. Their first single is a breathtaking cover of the Screaming Jay Hawkins classic, ‘I Put A Spell On You’

Parlor Social covers Screamin' Jay Hawkins "I Put A Spell On You"

Parlor Social covers Screamin' Jay Hawkins "I Put A Spell On You"

Jazz/Soul duo PARLOR SOCIAL cover Screamin' Jay Hawkins with their own special twist fusing elements of RnB, Blues, Pop, Jazz, and Hip Hop while still maintaining the hauntingly beautiful musicality of the original score.

First Listen: Parlor Social puts a "Spell" on us

First Listen: Parlor Social puts a "Spell" on us

The soulful sorceress Dessy Di Lauro and Ric’key Pageot perform the ultimate magic trick by creating a version that remains true to Simone while also being endowed with the pair’s unique voice.