Longtime Papa Grows Funk drummer Russell Batiste Jr. will be leaving the group. In his stead, drummer Jeffrey ‘Jellybean’ Alexander (Jon Cleary’s Absolute Monster Gentleman) will step behind the kit, at least for the near future. Batiste, will continue to play with the funky Meters, PBS (after that band had split for a time) and Vida Blue (if/when that group gigs again). Papa Grows Funk will appear at Tipitina’s Uptown in its native New Orleans this Friday, with steady area gigs scheduled through April.