After joining forces as The Heavyweights last year, Grammy-winning virtuosos Cory Henry (organ), Eric Krasno (guitar), and Robert “Sput” Searight (drums) will hit New Orleans, LA’s The Joy Theater on Friday, May 1st, 2026 during weekend two of Jazz Fest for a two-set performance featuring special guest Oteil Burbridge.
Henry, Krasno, and Searight’s individual résumés are among the broadest and most eclectic in the business—hence the group’s name. Cory Henry, who earned acclaim early in life as a child prodigy, logged time in Snarky Puppy, branched out with his own Funk Apostles, and last year played arenas with Stevie Wonder, among various other ongoing projects. Robert “Sput” Searight, another Snarky Puppy veteran, co-founded and continues to lead funk collective Ghost-Note, and recently spent several years touring with pop rock legends Toto. Eric Krasno, who co-founded and continues to lead Soulive, among countless other projects, is a decorated guitarist, producer, songwriter, and musical director across the worlds of funk, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and beyond. As with his Heavyweights bandmates, his credits are too extensive to attempt to list here.
Oteil Burbridge, a first-time guest for The Heavyweights, packs an equally powerful punch in the music world. Known for his work with Dead & Company, the Allman Brothers Band, the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Vida Blue, Toy Factory Project, and many more, Burbridge embodies the center of the extended jam band world’s eclectic Venn diagram.
But while the players in The Heavyweights each have weighty resumes, this project is as fresh as they come. Cory, Kraz, and Sput debuted the moniker last summer with a show at The Mint in Los Angeles which they recorded for a live album, Live from the Mint, available to purchase in physical formats here. They’ll still be able to count their total number of live shows on their fingers by the time they hit the historic Joy Theater on Friday, May 1st for their biggest show to date.
We are proud to share that a portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to two incredible organizations: Positive Legacy and Grace at the Green Light. Positive Legacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that integrates music and service to benefit people and the planet through sustainable environmental and humanitarian projects. Grace at the Green Light is a New Orleans-based organization dedicated to providing for the basic needs of the unhoused population, offering food, water, and clothing with dignity and a focus on the human spirit.
