Photos by Jeffrey Dupuis

Founding Meters member and current 7 Walkers bassist George Porter Jr. celebrated his 63rd birthday with his annual birthday bash at New Orleans’ Howlin Wolf this past Sunday. The show as advertised featured Porter and his current band, The Runnin’ Pardners: Mike Lemmler (keyboards), Terrence Houston (drums), Khris Royal (saxophone), Brint Anderson (guitar) and Tracy Griffin (trumpet). As expected many, New Orleans musicians dropped in to wish the bassist a happy birthday—musically. The Runnin’ Pardners opened the show with an extended 80-minute set that drew in former Runnin’ Pardner Tracy Griffin (trumpet) for the final thirty minutes. Porter’s granddaughter Ciara also sang happy birthday to the evening’s guest of honor. After the Runnin’ Pardners left the stage, Porter delivered a solo bass version of “Christmas In New Orleans” off his new EP Christmas In New Orleans/A Tribute to My Mother.

Ported returned to the stage for a second set that featured Galactic’s Stanton Moore (drums), Anders Osborne (guitar/vocals), Johnny Vidacovich (drums) and Kirk Joseph (tuba). The ad hoc group ran through “Boxes of Bills and Pain” and “Junco Partner” before opening the night into something of an extended jam. Numerous musicians who have shared the stage with Porter over the past 45-years took the stage at various points, including Brian Stoltz (guitar/vocals), Russell Batiste (drums), June Yamagishi (guitar), Terence Higgins (drums) and Jorge Lazzari (drums), Tony Hall (guitar), Brint Anderson (guitar) and Brice Neville(tambourine), among others.

The show switched themes as the night moved on. At one point, Bill Iuso (guitar/vocals), Eric Bolivar (drums), Jorge Lazzari (drums) and CR Gruver (keyboards) took the stage to play some of the Grateful Dead songs Porter interprets with 7 Walkers like “Sugaree” and “Eyes of the World.” According to the bassist, “While we were playing I heard the feel of the groove go somewhere else I looked over my shoulder and David Russell Batiste, Jr. had taken over little Jorge’s drum seat and the pocket went some where else.”

Kirk Joseph’s wife Vanessa Williams-Joseph catered the evening’s chicken and cake while Porter’s daughter Katrina made the gumbo ( and helped curate the show in general). Porter’s wife of 44 years Ara was also in attendance.

“I kind of remember that when we stopped I had been playing for about 4 hours, and I am now 63, so that is pushing it kind of hard smile, but I had a great time,” Porter says. “I am looking forward to next year with the Runnin Pardners, The 7 Walkers and the Funky Meters, hopefully all three with new CD’s, that would be great.”

Porter will close the year with 7 Walkers. The band will perform at Syracuse, NY’s Westcott Theater tonight and Reading, PA’s The Silo tomorrow.