Ari Teitel is a multiple GRAMMY-nominated musician, producer, singer and songwriter based in New Orleans. He served as the musical director for Mardi Gras Indian Funk group Cha Wa for three years, during which time he co-produced the band’s 2021 album My People and earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Regional Roots Music Album. He earned his first GRAMMY nomination for his contributions as a guitarist and songwriter on the group’s 2018 album, Spyboy. More recently, he collaborated with the iconic rock musician Iggy Pop on several songs, including his pandemic-inspired 2020 single “Dirty Little Virus.” Teitel is a guitarist on “Buy Back the Block” on PJ Morton’s GRAMMY-winning 2019 album, Paul. In late 2022, Teitel released his first solo project in five years, I Got My Thing. 

Raised in Detroit, Teitel has established himself as a pre-eminent and versatile talent in New Orleans, where he has worked with some of the city’s biggest stars including PJ Morton, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Irma Thomas, Davell Crawford, Nicholas Payton, Herlin Riley, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and many more. Celebrated for his fluency in funk, jazz, blues, soul, r&b, gospel, rock, and more, he is a frequent performer at the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the coveted late-night all-star Jazz Fest shows. His international appearances include the Montreal International Jazz Festival, JazzAscona in Switzerland, Ottawa Jazz Festival and Cupa Dupa in New Zealand. His on-stage and in-studio collaborators include The Motet, Mononeon, Cyrille Aimee, Papa Mali, Adam Deitch, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marcus Machado, Nigel Hall, Jamison Ross and Gabrielle Cavassa.

Teitel’s first instrument was the piano, which he began playing at age four before graduating to guitar at nine. Even before reaching his teenage years, he was leading a band and by the time he enrolled in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University, he was gigging around Detroit. Over his college years, he played with Thornetta Davis, Karen Clark-Sheard, Larry McCray, Skeeto Valdez and others. Teitel also credits his years of playing music in historically Black churches with providing him a priceless musical education. Within three months of graduating college, he moved to New Orleans, which allowed him to further explore his favorite musical genres, and the city embraced his versatility. Since then, he has reached tremendous success as a first-call guitarist, as well as a gifted vocalist and bass player. He has also established himself as a fledgling record producer, making records for artists including J & the Causeways and Sara Syms.

In early 2022, Teitel and six other members of Cha Wa left the band and formed The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., a Mardi Gras Indian funk group who performed at the New Orleans Jazz Fest that Spring. The group released their debut live album in May 2023.

Teitel’s departure from Cha Wa is a primary source of inspiration for Teitel’s 2022 solo album, I Got My Thing, as are the “pandemic blues.” The new album – which features Detroit bassist Paul Randolph and New Orleans’ Jamison Ross on drums, Nigel Hall on keys, and Erica Falls on background vocals – showcases not only his exceptional musicality but also his desire to share some of the painful details of recent experiences while engendering positivity.

Photo: Giole Pozzi