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BOROGOFUNK ORGAN GROUP
The musical bond between Luciano Leães and Danny Abel was forged in New Orleans — a city where both found fertile ground to develop and intertwine their voices. Playing together, they discovered a rare chemistry that transforms each performance into a living dialogue between Hammond and guitar.
Born from this natural connection, the band creates a sound rooted in blues, jazz, funk, and R&B, yet constantly reinvented. Luciano’s Hammond brings the rolling groove and cadence of New Orleans, while Danny’s guitar adds subtlety, groove, and a pulsating drive. The result is a modern sound that honors the past while speaking vividly in the present.
Their repertoire blends original compositions with tributes to New Orleans icons such as The Meters, James Booker, Allen Toussaint, and Art Neville, as well as Hammond and guitar masters like Jimmy Smith and Grant Green. On stage, their philosophy is simple: music as storytelling, free and unbounded, where improvisation and dynamics shape unique moments night after night.
More than a band, Leães and Abel embody two musical journeys crossing paths — celebrating the living tradition of New Orleans while opening new possibilities. Their performances are vibrant, soulful, and honest: a true conversation between Brazil and New Orleans.
DANNY ABEL (NEW ORLEANS)
Since childhood, upon arriving in New Orleans, Danny Abel knew that this was his place. In a city that breathes music, he developed impressive versatility, able to move across different styles and collaborate with virtually any artist.
For six years, Danny toured the world with the band Tank and The Bangas, with whom he received a Grammy nomination. In addition to being a sought-after guitarist, he is also a music producer: his company, Brown Hound Sounds, won the ADDY Award in 2023.
Throughout his career, Danny has performed with renowned names such as Big Freedia, The Revivalists, Stanton Moore, Erica Falls, Ivan Neville, NOJO (New Orleans Jazz Orchestra), and the LPO (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra), among many others. He also leads his own projects, performing in clubs and festivals throughout the city — including headlining the Pensacola JazzFest in 2024.
Danny is also a constant presence in groups like Soul Brass Band, Pat Casey and the New Sound, and The Trumpet Mafia, among countless other ensembles. His repertoire spans funk, traditional jazz, gospel, and R&B, keeping his schedule always diverse. For him, these different genres are not separate worlds, but distinct approaches to a single language: music. Danny speaks this language fluently.
In 2020, he co-founded Brown Hound Sounds with keyboardist Drew Meez. Together, they create soundtracks for commercials, TV, and video, while also producing albums of their own and for other artists.
In short, Danny Abel stays busy doing what he loves most: making music.
LUCIANO LEÃES (BRAZIL)
Luciano Leães is a Brazilian pianist, organist, and composer recognized as one of the leading representatives of New Orleans piano in Latin America. His work has been featured in the British magazine Blues Matters, which nicknamed him “The Brazilian Professor” in reference to the tradition of Professor Longhair.
With a solid international career, Leães has performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (USA), Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada), and Tremblant International Blues Festival (Canada). He has also shared the stage with legends such as Carey Bell, Hubert Sumlin, Tony Coleman, James “Boogaloo” Bolden, and Annika Chambers.
In 2013, he opened for Elton John in Porto Alegre. Recognized by the New Orleans Jazz Museum as an ambassador of the style in Brazil, he was the first Brazilian pianist to perform at that institution. A familiar figure in the New Orleans scene, Leães has played at Maple Leaf Bar, Crawfish Fest, and the Jazz Museum, and is scheduled to perform at the Ellis Marsalis Center in April 2026.
Leães stands out for his deep mastery of blues, jazz, R&B, and soul, with a strong influence of New Orleans piano — the trademark of his sound. His work reflects over three decades of dedication, blending tradition and personality into powerful interpretations. He is currently finalizing his new album, recorded in New Orleans and produced by Jake Eckert of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Luciano Leães continues his mission of building cultural bridges, celebrating African American music, and expanding the horizons of Brazilian piano blues.
