The Shadow People

Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman, and Danny Abel are back for another episode of The Shadow People. This week: the Michael Jackson rabbit hole continues, Danny tells the story of getting sent to Europe only to end up playing cowbell through the longest second line in Copenhagen history, the crew talks Knicks basketball, Ray J's boxing embarrassment, Very Good Tuesdays, impossibly fast tempos, and w...

TITLE: The Shadow People Ep34 – Zach Mama: From Paris to 50 States, Comedy, Jazz & Life on the Road DESCRIPTION: French-born comedian, drummer, world traveler, and all-around wild man Zach Mama joins The Shadow People for one of the most unpredictable conversations we've had yet. Before becoming a rising stand-up comic, Zach spent years touring as a professional musician, studying in Phila...

This week on The Shadow People, Derrick Freeman and Nigel Hall sit down with the legendary bassist of The Meters for a conversation that somehow manages to feel like a history lesson, a backstage hang, a musicians’ therapy session, and an old neighborhood bar conversation all at once. George talks sobriety, instinct, hearing harmony in real time, and the fear of wondering whether the music would s...

The legendary Leroy Mitchell, better known as Whistle Monster, pulls up to the studio and the conversation is already in motion. We drop in mid-stream as Leroy reflects on turning 59 and what actually matters when life starts getting real. What begins as a story about his former therapist takes a turn into something deeper. Health, aging, and the quiet reality that all the accomplishments in the w...

Part 1 of this split episode brings Doug Belote into the room, which means two things are guaranteed: deep drummer talk and hilarious hijinks. Doug sits down with Nigel and Derrick to talk about coming up between Lafayette and New Orleans, learning by listening, and getting his real education the old-fashioned way: standing too close to greatness and paying attention. He talks about his father’s s...

This episode opens in the most unhinged way possible and somehow still lands exactly where it should. Nigel learns what “soaking” is on air. We apologize in advance. After the chaos, the conversation turns into something genuinely beautiful. Nigel talks about bringing his son on Jam Cruise for the first time and the strange emotional moment when you realize you are watching your kid experience the...

Nigel’s out on the road, so Derrick holds it down in-studio with a real New Orleans legend: DJ Raj Smoove a.k.a. the “world’s greatest DJ” (self-appointed, but… also kind of true).Raj walks us through coming up in Gentilly, learning the craft the hard way (crates, records, no shortcuts), and how the city’s hip-hop scene grew from local identity into national waves. Then we get into the actual stor...

The Shadow People hit their one–year anniversary with a holiday episode that somehow manages to be equal parts true-crime autopsy, sports therapy session, and Christmas group hug. Nigel and Derrick kick things off with a deep dive into the new Diddy documentary produced by 50 Cent: the year of peak pettiness, Bad Boy’s legacy, the Tupac timeline finally “making sense,” witness tampering on camera,...

Back in the studio after a couple months on the road, Nigel and Derrick get right to it. Nigel’s fresh off Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii, and a stop at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, and the contrast between “the world” and “home” hits hard. The fellas talk travel whiplash, culture shock, and why San Francisco’s reputation does not match the Tenderloin reality, even if the city’s still g...

Nigel is somewhere over the Pacific. Danny slides from the dark corner into the hot lights. We talk Mississippi childhood, art schools, Tulane to UNO, Marsalis and Peterson lore, and the strange path from guitar ensemble to Guitarmy. There is a Hornets band saga, a Pelicans kid-night meltdown, and a food-court survival guide. We also wander into fruit heists, Red Rocks with Jack Black, why backup...

Episode 25 opens like a family room. Nigel’s voice drops in from the road, Lettuce dates on the horizon, and a heavy moment reflecting on losing heroes and what that does to musicians our age. Julian “Juice” joins as guest host, part New Orleans memory book, part announcement of a new chapter. Juice talks about leaving the comfort of a longrun band to build his name, why authenticity beats trends,...

Nigel Live from Barcelona: Jazzy Jeff Sessions, Lettuce’s “Rising to the Top,” + SE Mic LoveNigel checks in from Europe with road stories, studio heat, and a little airline chaos. From recording with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Corey Fonville, and rising vocalist Ronnie Lux, to Lettuce’s new take on Kenny Burke’s “Rising to the Top,” this one’s a music-nerd feast. Derrick holds it down at Brown Hound Sounds on...

What happens when you hand the mic to Jelly on her birthday, invite Yolanda Ross fresh off her run on The Chi, and let Derrick cook? You get one of the most heartfelt and funniest episodes yet. Yolanda opens up about growing up in Omaha, chasing fashion before acting found her, and the unlikely path from SNL background work to starring in HBO films and working with Denzel Washington. She breaks do...

Tipitina’s is home court for working musicians, and the room feels it. LBJ sets the table, Derrick and Nigel bring the friendly chaos, and the Shadow Band turns the stage lights into a living room. What follows is pure New Orleans: road stories and weather jokes, a tender moment about fathers and sobriety, and the reminder that music is the family business even when life gets heavy. Ivan Neville d...

Corey Glover — legendary frontman of Living Colour , actor in Platoon , and Broadway’s Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar — joins Derrick Freeman and Nigel Hall for a raw, hilarious, and inspiring deep-dive into his career. From grinding in Brooklyn rehearsal spaces with Vernon Reid to scoring a global hit with “Cult of Personality,” Corey breaks down the birth of the Black Rock Coalition, the strugg...

In a beautifully introspective episode, legendary musician and composer Patrice Rushen joins Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman to discuss the artistry, humor, and profound wisdom behind her prolific musical journey. Renowned for her iconic hit "Forget Me Nots," Patrice's groundbreaking career spans jazz, funk, R&B, and film scoring. Tune in as she shares candid insights into the met...

Listening to DJ Soul Sister talk about music feels like stumbling upon a secret library filled with records you've only ever dreamed existed, each groove worn deep by a thousand loving spins. In this episode of The Shadow People, hosts Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman sit down with the beloved New Orleans DJ, whose encyclopedic knowledge of funk, soul, disco, and R&B is matched only by her p...

In Episode 18 of The Shadow People Podcast, Grammy-winning musician Nigel Hall welcomes back the beloved Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, who fills in while Derrick enjoys a much-deserved vacation in Mexico. Nigel and Jelly conduct an honest, heartfelt, and often hilarious conversation covering music, parenthood, and the creative journey toward finding your artistic identity. From Nigel’s emotio...

In this very special episode of T he Shadow People , we welcome the esteemed Lebron Joseph aka LBJ to the studio to discuss New Orleans' complicated historical handling of Juneteenth, the ways in which the media game has changed, and the legacy of Sly Stone (RIP). LBJ has been a broadcaster in New Orleans for over 40 years. He’s the anchor of Good Morning New Orleans on WGNO and hosts New Orle...

In Part 2 of our conversation with the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff, we examine more deeply the truth behind the music industry: mastering myths, artistic ego checks, and what it really means to create music that moves people. Jeff talks candidly about the modern music landscape, why mixing and mastering are often misunderstood (and overpriced), and how emotion, not perfection, is what listeners really...

DJ Jazzy Jeff on Philly, Neo-Soul, & Why You Need to Release Your MusicIn this monumental episode of The Shadow People, Nigel and Derrick sit down with the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff for an insightful and wide-ranging conversation. From his early production days in Philly to the birth of Jill Scott's iconic debut album, Jeff shares wisdom on music, legacy, and why creatives shouldn't die...

Jazz Fest is over and The Shadow People are back—tired, reflective, and ready to speak on it. In this episode, hosts Derrick Freeman and Nigel Hall share raw, funny, and emotional stories from this year’s Jazz Fest, including a show-stopping set with Nikki Glaspie and their crew at the Maple Leaf. They get personal about sobriety, creative evolution, and what it means to perform with your real-lif...

Drummer, bandleader, and all-around powerhouse Nikki Glaspie (Dumpstaphunk, Beyoncé, The Nth Power) joins Derrick and Nigel for a raw, hilarious, and revealing episode of The Shadow People . From playing stadiums with Beyoncé to mushroom-fueled tours through Colorado, Nikki shares the road-tested wisdom and wild memories that shaped her career. She and Nigel revisit their time in The Nth Power—inc...

It’s Jazz Fest season in New Orleans, and The Shadow People are back with a heavy-hitting episode featuring trombonist, arranger, and all-around musical badass Alex Wasily—best known for his work with Dumpstaphunk, Earth Wind & Power, and the Very Good Mondays series. Alex joins Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman, and Danny Abel for a full-on hang in the Brown Hound Sounds studio, talking everything...

It’s Festival Season in New Orleans, and The Shadow People are back with another killer episode. Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman dive into French Quarter Fest highlights, Jazz Fest prep, and the legendary hustle of gig life in the city. Then, things get funky as the crew holds the first-ever 70s Musician Draft, assembling dream bands from a curated list of groove masters, soul icons, and jazz-funk...