Joe Marcinek’s Dead Funk Summit To Celebrate New Album With Star-Studded Release Party Concert In New Orleans

Guitarist Joe Marcinek collaborated with renowed bassist George Porter Jr. and keyboardist Melvin Seals on Dead Funk Summit, his seventh album of original music. Dead Funk Summit comes out on May 2 and will be feted the same date with an all-star Album Release Party at the Toulouse Theatre in New Orleans.

George Porter Jr., Dennis Chambers, Tony Hall, Jennifer Hartswick, Nikki Glaspie, Shaun Martin, Michael Lemmler, Terrence Houston, Brad Walker and Alex Wasily have been confirmed to perform at Joe Marcinek’s Dead Funk Summit Album Release Party. Additional guests for the concert held on the Tuesday between Jazz Fest weekends are expected. Tickets for the late night show are on sale now via See Tickets.

The Dead Funk Summit concept dates back to 2018 as a way to bridge the worlds of the Grateful Dead and funk music. Many Joe Marcinek’s Dead Funk Summit concerts have been held over the past five years, a number of which featured George Porter Jr. and Melvin Seals. Marcinek had GPJ and Melvin in mind when writing his own Dead and funk-influenced material for the upcoming Dead Funk Summit album.

The guitarist began work on the eight-track LP in February of 2022. He recorded in New Orleans with George Porter Jr. and his trio of Lemmler on keys and Houston on drums. Melvin Seals laid down his contributions in San Francisco. Tony Hall tracked vocals for the project and horn lines were added. Joe Marcinek recruited Alan Evans (Soulive) to mix and master the new record. Dead Funk Summit hits digital streaming platforms on May 2.