Soul Project NOLA

Bio

"... these cats are cutting their own groove, shaking the walls and earning their place among the torchbearers of New Orleans funk." Marc Stone - 90.7 WWOZ & Offbeat

Built upon the funky foundation of New Orleans, Soul Project FUAS bring their own voices to the mix of Funk, Blues, Gospel, Jazz. and Groove that the Crescent City continually produces. A new vehicle for Soul Project NOLA frontman Jon Cristian Duque, Guitar/Vocals, (Soul Project NOLA, Walter "Wolfman" Washington), the Soul Project FUAS are an ever changing cast of characters currently consisting of:

The Soul Project FUAS

Jon Cristian Duque

Guitar/Vocals

Born in Chuquicamata, Chile and raised on the Jersey Shore, Jon Cristian Duque has called New Orleans home since moving there on New Years Day 2000. A veteran of the Frenchmen St scene and protege of the legendary Walter "Wolfman" Washington, he has made it his mission to continue and add to the traditions learned from being a member of Walter's band, The Roadmasters, and through the many iterations of his own band The Soul Project, and then to bring that joy and love and music to the whole world .

Wanda Joseph

Bass/Vocals

New Orleans native and recent Grammy recipient, Wanda Joseph puts the true local roots in The Soul Project FUAS. Unlike most other children’s memories of their musical indoctrination, Joseph saw the real-deal New Orleans soul being created first hand as the daughter of drummer Vernell “Joe Gunn” Joseph.
She grew up watching her father play with and as royalty of New Orleans’ soul heyday—Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe and Tommy Ridgly, among others.
Her own inspirations came from “everything from the ‘70s,” she says, with ‘70s and ’80s funk becoming her top favorites.

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Whitney Alouiscious

Vocals/Sunshine

Whitney Alouiscious is a vocalist and lyricist based in New Orleans. She has been a professional musician for the last 10 years and has performed at countless clubs all over New Orleans including Tipitina’s and Maple Leaf. Most often seen on Frenchmen Street with Gene’s Music Machine - who hosts the weekly New Orleans Super Jam and was featured on the Congo Square Stage during the 2019 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. She is the lead vocalist for band Colin Davis & The Night People, and has been a background vocalist for numerous bands and artists, both live and in the studio. She is also known to cut a mean rug - but only the mean ones 😉

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Wayne Maureau

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Born and raised in New Orleans, Drummer Wayne Maureau has been a member of the local music scene for over 30 years. Known for his versatility, he is called upon to back artists, both local and international, in all genres of music. During his career he has performed at music clubs and festivals all around the world and has been featured on many recordings. Currently he performs with Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters, Mia Borders, The Joe Krown Trio, The Wolfman Trio, Trifuncta, The Funky Uncle All Stars and various jazz & funk groups in the Crescent City. Wayne serves as adjunct faculty percussion instructor at Loyola University, New Orleans. He is a member of the Faculty Jazz Septet and instructs the Loyola Latin Jazz Ensemble. In 2005 he published “The Multi-Stylist Drummer”, a method book detailing his approach to the drums. Wayne has released four albums of his original compositions and holds endorsements with Bosphorus Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads and Fortune Drums.

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Jake Gold

Keyboards

Jake Gold grew up playing piano in Queens, NY, studying how to make the instrument bend at his will, learning from scary old Russians, neighbor's parents, and by playing along to the radio. He went to college in Connecticut to study jazz and world music, and upon leaving, found himself immersed in Boston's reggae scene, where he got to tour, perform, and record with some of modern reggae's biggest names. Tired of playing primarily one genre, Gold relocated to Vermont, where he joined a popular electro-rock-dance band and continued to perform with jazz and reggae outfits. After a decision to escape winter forever, he moved down to New Orleans in 2012, and hasn't looked back since. Over the past decade, he’s gained a reputation as a strong composer, arranger, and sideman—in the studio and on the stage—playing with too many cover bands and original acts to list. He has appeared on over 40 releases, filling the roles of pianist/keyboards, drummer, bassist, producer, and engineer, and has recently released his first solo record, titled “Odes, Parts I & II.”

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Brothers and Sisters

Jason Neville

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In addition to lending lead vocals to the Soul Project FUAS track "Here comes Mr Mardi Gras", Jason will be joining the band for their upcoming West Coast Hustle III tour dates this September.

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Lirette "The 1st Lady Of Funk" Neville

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Also lending her vocal and rhythmic talents to the band for the West Coast Hustle III Tour this Sept. is the "1st Lady Of Funk" and wife of Jason, Lirette Neville!

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Eric Bernhart

"Uncle Bernie"

Eric Bernhardt is a Montana native and New Orleans based freelance saxophonist. His family moved to Boise, ID in 1990 where he graduated high school and began studying music at Boise State University. He left BSU after joining the Mosquitones, a frenetic ska band that toured the western US. In 2001, he moved to Denver, CO where he completed his undergraduate and masters degrees at the University of Denver in Jazz and Commercial Music Composition. He performed around Denver with several big bands, small jazz groups and R&B groups until he moved to New Orleans in 2011. Since then he has performed at Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, and was a soloist in Jump, Jive, and Wail: the Music of Louis Prima. He joined the Marcia Ball Band in 2014, and continues to work in New Orleans leading his original group, Noggin and a jazz group called the Four Sidemen of the Apocalypse. He also has an independent release, Bernie’s Blues, available on iTunes and Spotify.

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