New Orleans Suspects & Jennifer Hartswick Bring Funk Energy to Steamboat Free Summer Concert
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO — Funk, soul, and musical heritage took center stage at Howelsen Hill on Saturday, August 9, as the New Orleans Suspects teamed up with vocalist-trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick for a dynamic, free performance that lit up the Steamboat Free Summer Concert Series.
Backed by a six-piece band and decades of New Orleans musical tradition, the Suspects brought their signature blend of second line rhythms and funk-infused roots rock to the mountains — proving once again that New Orleans music belongs anywhere people are ready to dance.
From the Streets of New Orleans to the Hills of Colorado
Jake Eckert, guitarist and vocalist for the New Orleans Suspects, has spent the last 20 years in the Crescent City — absorbing and sharing the rich cultural rhythms that define its musical legacy. “It’s music for the people,” Eckert said. “It came up from the streets, and I think it still holds those elements of parade music. We call it second line music.”
Though Eckert’s roots trace back to Georgia, where music was a family affair, it was his time touring internationally with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band that forged his passion for New Orleans’ genre-blending spirit. By 2013, he had transitioned full time to the Suspects, a band formed in 2009 by members of notable New Orleans groups like the Radiators and the Neville Brothers.
A Funk-Filled Set With Jennifer Hartswick
Joining the band for the Steamboat show was powerhouse vocalist and trumpet player Jennifer Hartswick, best known for her work with the Trey Anastasio Band. Her presence added a soulful layer to the evening’s music, with Eckert praising her as “one of the coolest people and one of the finest musicians I’ve ever gotten to work with.”
The full lineup included:
- Brad Walker – saxophone
- C.R. Gruver – keyboards
- Rodney Webber – drums
- Chris Cenac – bass
- Jake Eckert – guitar/vocals
- Jennifer Hartswick – vocals/trumpet
Hartswick led the vocals for much of the night while also diving into improvisational solos. The band’s upbeat, danceable set was a fusion of “old funky tunes” and unmistakable New Orleans sounds — making it nearly impossible to stay still.
Music With a Message and a Mission
Despite the high altitude — a challenge for horn players and singers coming from sea level — the Suspects embraced the Steamboat crowd with full energy. Eckert shared that Colorado has long been a welcoming home for fans of roots and funk music.
“To make the people listening forget about the daily grind and their troubles for a hundred minutes, and let the music lift them up — that’s what drives us,” he said. “In this era of social media and AI, to keep real music with real musicians… that’s where the truth is.”
Were you at the Steamboat Free Summer Concert? Share your favorite New Orleans Suspects or Jennifer Hartswick moment in the comments on ChicagoMusicGuide.com and tell us how the funk moved you!