Last night former New Groove of the Month The Bridge its Big Easy debut at New Orleans The Maple Leaf. The groups high energy performance was dotted with notable sit-ins, including a surprise appearance by Ivan Neville, who played keyboards on selections like New Mistake, Express Yourself and Death Letter Blues, and drummer Russell Batiste, who joined the group for almost its entire performance. Batiste first collaborated with the Baltimore, MD-bred group at a Katrina benefit in the fall of 2005 and has remained close with the young group ever since. Papa Grows Funk leader John Gros also stopped by to play keyboards on a handful of songs, including Shake ‘em Down, Chevrolet, Heavy Water, When I’m Kissin My Love, Spanish Moon, Superfunk and People Say. The Bridge is current touring in support of its Hyena Records debut and will perform at Houston, TXs Super Happy Fun Land this evening.