Originally from New York, Chaz lived in Boulder, CO for most of his life, and has played with a variety of bands including Tin Men, Palmetto Bug Stompers, and Washboard Rodeo. In 2000, Chaz arrived in New Orleans and immediately established himself as a seasoned musician and formed the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio. As a performer, Chaz has achieved international recognition in acoustic country blues. He has shared the stage with Bonnie Raitt, John Hammond, Taj Mahal, Anders Osborne and Corey Harris, among others. He has opened for many blues greats, including Muddy Waters, Robert Cray, Doc Watson and Keb Mo. Chaz’s musical talents have been featured on over 100 recordings, including John Hammond’s 1998 Grammy-nominated “Long as I have You.” When he is not performing on stage, he enjoys working with children and adults in percussion workshops.
How we met:
The washboard is a staple of New Orleans music and we knew we couldn’t leave town without recording the best. We met Chaz through Roberto Luti, who played slide guitar in his trio, and recorded him outside the Spotted Cat where he performs regularly.