Idle Monday nights led to a full-time gig for John "Papa" Gros. In 2000, Gros launched an informal New Orleans funk jam into a seven year residency at the Maple Leaf Bar and New Orleans' hottest funk/jamband, Papa Grows Funk.
The return of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to its first full seven days of programming since 2005 has inspired organizers to assemble the deepest overall mix in the 39-year history of the event.