River Eckert is a teenage phenom on the piano, channeling the piano masters of his native New Orleans as he makes his own mark on the musical scene. He plays solo piano, sings, and has led his own band in performance at venues like the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, NOLA Funk Fest, WWOZ’s Piano Night, Chickee Wah Wah, Tipitina’s, and the Maple Leaf, all before he can drive. Eckert started on the piano when he was three, encouraged by his multi-talented guitarist and producer father, Jake (New Orleans Suspects, Loyola professor). He started as a classical player, but his teachers encouraged him to expand to jazz and blues due to his innate talent for those styles. He began a deep dive into the music of the masters: Professor Longhair, James Booker, Dr. John, Fats Domino, and Allen Toussaint, and is a rising star in the carrying on of these traditions. He performs with top-notch mentors: George Porter, Jr., Reggie Scanlan, Roger Lewis, Terrence Higgins, Kirk Joseph, and many other well-known New Orleans musicians.