Third Sunday Concert: River Eckert

Teen pianist River Eckert will bring sounds of New Orleans to May 17 concert at Christ Church

Date: Sunday, May 17.
Performer: Blues and jazz pianist River Eckert performing New Orleans favorites
Time: 5–6 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.)

Teen piano phenom River Eckert, who channels the styles of New Orleans legends Professor
Longhair, James Booker, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John, will headline the May 17 Third Sunday Concert
at Christ Episcopal Church, Covington. The concert will be staged in the church, beginning at 5 p.m.
(doors open at 4:30 p.m.).

Born in New Orleans into a musical family, River began playing piano at the age of 3. Initially
he focused on classical music, but his teachers encouraged him to explore blues and jazz after
recognizing his natural ability to quickly grasp those genres. He immersed himself in the styles of local
legends, and by his early teens he was performing locally and “carrying the torch” for the New Orleans
piano tradition.

Now, at only age 16, he has made appearances at events and venues such as the New Orleans
Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, NOLA Funk Festival, Hogs for the Cause, WWOZ
Piano Night, Tipitina’s, Maple Leaf Bar and the House Of Blues, and has performed with the likes of Taj
Mahal, Trombone Shorty, George Porter Jr., Cyril Neville, Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, Stanton Moore,
Big Chief Donald Harrison, Jr., The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and others.
His debut studio album is scheduled for release this spring, and he will perform in Europe this
summer.
Selections to be performed at the Third Sunday Concert include “The Sunny Side Of the Street,” “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans,” “Red Beans,” “Tipitina,” “Such a Night,” and
“Tico Tico.”

The Third Sunday Concert Series is an outreach of Christ Episcopal Church, Covington. The
one-hour concerts are free and open to the public and are followed by a reception in the parish hall for
the performers and audience.

The May 17 concert concludes the series 35th year. Planning is already underway for the 36th
season, which will kick off in September.

Christ Episcopal Church is located at 120 S. New Hampshire, near the Covington downtown area
and just before the entrance to Bogue Falaya Park. The handicap accessible entrance to the sanctuary is
located on the park side of the main church.

For more information call 985.892.3177 or visit christchurchcovington.com.