Leo Nocentelli is the lead guitarist and a founding member of The Meters, the New Orleans band whose funk guitar parts, in Dunlop's words, "redefined the NOLA sound and influenced artists of all genres around the world"1. He was the band's chief writer during the Rejuvenation era, and Guitar Player counted him among its 50 Greatest Rhythm Guitarists of All Time, while the Grammys honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award2.
The wah
Nocentelli's signature effect is the wah pedal. He says he used one on the first Meters album:
"I bought one that I actually used on the first Meters album for "Here Comes the Meter Man.""
Jimmy Leslie, Dunlop Lifestyle interview with Leo Nocentelli2
He also used the wah on "Just Kissed My Baby," "You've Got to Change, (You've Got to Reform)," "Getting Funkier All the Time," and "Stay Away"2. Dunlop describes him using the Cry Baby Wah to "sling slick, syrupy grooves" on "I Just Kissed My Baby"1. Before his signature model came out, he played a Jimi Hendrix JH-1 wah3.
On the wah players who shaped him, he says:
"I would pitch Hendrix as the real master of the wah, and I was influenced by him."
Leo Nocentelli, Dunlop Lifestyle interview2
He also appreciated Robin Trower's playing2.
Signature Cry Baby Mardi Gras Wah
Dunlop honored funk guitarist Leo Nocentelli with his own signature Cry Baby Wah3. Nocentelli, lead guitarist and founding member of The Meters, had previously been using a Jimi Hendrix JH-1 wah before receiving his signature model3.
Sources (3)
- LEO NOCENTELLI CRY BABY® MARDI GRAS WAH, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- The Meters Man Sounds Off, Dunlop Lifestyle (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2022-02-01
- Dunlop Leo Nocentelli Cry Baby Wah: A revoiced wah for funk tones aplenty!, gearnews.com, 2022-02-03