Peter Novelli

Guitarist / singer / songwriter Peter Novelli is based in New Orleans and Santo Domingo, D.R.  Critics have described the sound of Peter Novelli Band as “a potent combination of New Orleans street rhythms, swampy backbeats, jazzy infusions, and a most sincere and innovative approach to the blues,” and “from slinky zydeco two-steps to stinging blues rock, from winking swamp-boogie to angular Crescent City grooves.”

Novelli’s songwriting has been compared to John Hiatt and  Bobby Charles. His vocal style has been compared variously  to Delbert McClinton, Bobby Charles, Mose Allison.

Blues Revue said “his blues are sophisticated and creative in a way that so few blues CDs are today. He deserves attention as one of the best storytellers in the blues today.”

Novelli released in 2022, after the pandemia hiatus, two new CDs.
"Further Up The Groove-Santo Domingo" was recorded in Santo Domingo coproduced with Guy Frómeta (drums,  formerly with Juan Luis Guerra, Leni Stern, Paquito de Rivera etc).  Ten original instrumentals written by Novelli, inspired by the melodies and rhythms that cross-pollinate between New Orleans, Havana and Santo Domingo. Call it Caribbean jazz funk.
"LA431-More Louisiana Roots & Blues" continues Novelli's odyssey into the blues, funk, cajun and zydeco music of Louisiana and particularly New Orleans. It’s the second CD recorded at Friendly Fish Studios in St Amant, LA (Brian Brignac,  coproducer and drummer for Sonny Landreth, Wayne Toups, Bobby Charles, Joel Sonnier, Chubby Carrier, etc).
LA431 includes the blues duet “If It Mattered" with Elaine Foster (vocalist with Dr. John, Johnny Adams, BB King, Irma Thomas, Bobby Charles).

St Amant Sessions was also recorded in this studio and included a guest appearance by famed Louisiana slide guitarist Sonny Landreth.

Novelli’s 2nd CD Louisiana Roots & Blues (2012) garnered much acclaim and radio play. With his core rhythm section Darryl White (drums, formerly w/ Tab Benoit and Chris Thomas King), Chris Chew (bass, North Mississippi Allstars), Joe Krown (B3/piano, formerly late Gatemouth Brown), and special guests Chubby Carrier (Grammy-winning zydeco accordionist), Chris Thomas King (lap slide guitar, Grammy “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou”), Shamarr Allen (trumpet), Gordon Minette (piano) and Elaine and Lisa Foster on backing vocals.

Novelli’s debut CD hit the blues/roots charts within a month of release and gathered widespread critical acclaim. His originals, with a few selected covers, made a journey through Louisiana-American roots-blues music. Guests include Dr. John, Paul Barrere, Augie Meyers, the late Gatemouth Brown’s rhythm section, and top Lousiana musicians. The CD includes an historical Tribute To Slim Harpo, with members of Harpo’s band (James Johnson, Rudy Richard) and rare interviews.

Novelli had a classical music education, starting violin at age 6. He picked up guitar at 14 after hearing a BB King record. The intensity, passion and raw emotional content of the blues masters (black/white, north/south) stuck in his ear and that drives him to this day. He likes to combine this feel with harmonic ideas of jazz, the relentless grooves of New Orleans funk and Louisiana  zydeco, and just about any cool and unusual style of music or rhythm that fits.
Early influences, along with B.B., were George Barnes, James Burton, Clarence White, Freddie King, Mike Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan, James Johnson (Slim Harpo), Guitar Slim, Gatemouth Brown, Albert Collins and more. Novelli was strongly influenced by some of the iconic jazz horn players like Stan Getz and Miles Davis.  From a young age, Novelli listened to and learned blues and R&B from Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Texas. He later got to appear on stages and record with some of these legends. 

Growing up, Novelli played in Syracuse, NY rock, blues and country bands. He hung out, jammed and gigged at the legendary underground Jabberwocky (hosted artists from Townes Van Zandt to Bonnie Raitt, Traffic to Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jackson Browne to James Brown!).

Some years back, after his band opened for Buckwheat Zydeco, Novelli travelled to SW Louisiana, absorbing more zydeco and cajun influences, sharing stages and jamming with many legends such as the late “King of Zydeco” Roy Carrier. This led to a work with Louisiana accordionist Sammy Naquin over several years, touring with Sammy and also the late cajun fiddle-guitar virtuoso Al Berard.
Novelli has shared stages and/or studios with some of the “who’s who” of blues, rock, R&B and roots music, including Dr. John, Sammy Kershaw, Olivier Scoazec, guitar (Zachary Richard, Buckwheat Zydeco); Greg "Fingers" Taylor (Jimmy Buffett); Smoky Greenwell (harp/sax, formerly WAR); New Orleans R&B guitar legend Irving Bannister; band members of the late R&B legends Ernie K. Doe and Eddie Bo; Sonny Landreth, numerous New Orleans musical icons, and many, many more. Novelli has collaborated and co-written songs with several Grammy-winning artists and songwriters.
After many years touring extensively and holding down French Quarter gigs, Novelli currently does limited performances, primarily composing, writing and recording his genre in his project studio on the North Coast of Dominican Republic.
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