NEW ORLEANS FESTIVALS - Jazz Fest Features
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson, the first lady of gospel, one of the most inspired voices of the 20th Century and New Orleans native daughter, returned home to herald the first Jazz Fest in 1970. From the relatively modest stages set up in Congo Square, she sang and marched in a second-line parade with the Eureka Brass Band, Duke Ellington and as they celebrated a new tradition. Read more
Mahalia Jackson, the first lady of gospel, one of the most inspired voices of the 20th Century and New Orleans native daughter, returned home to herald the first Jazz Fest in 1970. From the relatively modest stages set up in Congo Square, she sang and marched in a second-line parade with the Eureka Brass Band, Duke Ellington and as they celebrated a new tradition. Read more
Herman Leonard
Photographer Herman Leonard created one of the premier picture archives of jazz. His collection is housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Now a resident of New Orleans, the just turned 80-year-old Leonard continues to photograph famous and destined-to-be famous jazz musicians. Read more
Photographer Herman Leonard created one of the premier picture archives of jazz. His collection is housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Now a resident of New Orleans, the just turned 80-year-old Leonard continues to photograph famous and destined-to-be famous jazz musicians. Read more
Jazz - Allen Toussaint
Legendary producer and pianist Allen Toussaint is behind enough hits to create his own personal top 100, from Ernie K-Doe's Mother-In-Law to Al Hirt's Java to Dr. John's Right Time Wrong Place to Labelle's Lady Marmalade. Though mostly he is known for his R&B work, he doesn't see anything startling about setting his sights on a jazz project. Read more
Legendary producer and pianist Allen Toussaint is behind enough hits to create his own personal top 100, from Ernie K-Doe's Mother-In-Law to Al Hirt's Java to Dr. John's Right Time Wrong Place to Labelle's Lady Marmalade. Though mostly he is known for his R&B work, he doesn't see anything startling about setting his sights on a jazz project. Read more
Jazz - Roland Guerin
Roland Guerin has been blessed with good opportunities. While many local jazz men like Donald Harrison and Terrence Blanchard went to New York and Los Angeles to establish themselves in the jazz world, Guerin had opportunities come to him. "Before I left Southern [University], I joined Mark Whitfield's band," Guerin says. "Before graduation, he gave me a list of dates and that turned into six years." Read more
Roland Guerin has been blessed with good opportunities. While many local jazz men like Donald Harrison and Terrence Blanchard went to New York and Los Angeles to establish themselves in the jazz world, Guerin had opportunities come to him. "Before I left Southern [University], I joined Mark Whitfield's band," Guerin says. "Before graduation, he gave me a list of dates and that turned into six years." Read more
N. O. Beats - NewBirth Brass Band
Drummer Cayetano "Tanio" Hingle had the same reaction to the new sounds of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band as visitors do to the traditional music of his NewBirth Brass Band when they play Convention events. He cocks his head to one side, scrunches his broad smile and mocks a nasal-voiced confusion, "What all's that?" Read more
Drummer Cayetano "Tanio" Hingle had the same reaction to the new sounds of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band as visitors do to the traditional music of his NewBirth Brass Band when they play Convention events. He cocks his head to one side, scrunches his broad smile and mocks a nasal-voiced confusion, "What all's that?" Read more
N. O. Beats - Bamboula 2000
To Luther Gray, the percussionist behind Bamboula 2000, drumming is history. "We were trying to find the bamboula rhythm from Congo Square..." We listened to old songs. We talked to Danny Barker. Then we met Chief Bay from New York. He knew the bamboula," Gray says. Read more
To Luther Gray, the percussionist behind Bamboula 2000, drumming is history. "We were trying to find the bamboula rhythm from Congo Square..." We listened to old songs. We talked to Danny Barker. Then we met Chief Bay from New York. He knew the bamboula," Gray says. Read more
Rock & Blues - Chris Thomas King
Chris Thomas King is at a crossroads in the blues. No blues artist straddles the past and future of blues quite like him. "I was the last blues artist of the 20th century discovered by a folklorist," he says. Read more
Chris Thomas King is at a crossroads in the blues. No blues artist straddles the past and future of blues quite like him. "I was the last blues artist of the 20th century discovered by a folklorist," he says. Read more
Global Rhythms - Fredy Omar
Fredy Omar has been in the right place at the right time. Taking advantage of it has propelled him to the top of New Orleans' Latin scene. "I came here with no money. No band. I didn't speak English," he says. "I went from singing Latin-Andino music in Jackson Square with a group of guys playing pan flute to being the Latin King of Frenchmen Street." Read more
Fredy Omar has been in the right place at the right time. Taking advantage of it has propelled him to the top of New Orleans' Latin scene. "I came here with no money. No band. I didn't speak English," he says. "I went from singing Latin-Andino music in Jackson Square with a group of guys playing pan flute to being the Latin King of Frenchmen Street." Read more
Rock & Blues - George Porter
The inauspicious founding of the Meters in the mid-'60s started the career of one of funk's most influential bands. The project ended before most people realized. "I don't think by the time the band broke up we realized how strong our reputation was," bassist George Porter says. Read more
The inauspicious founding of the Meters in the mid-'60s started the career of one of funk's most influential bands. The project ended before most people realized. "I don't think by the time the band broke up we realized how strong our reputation was," bassist George Porter says. Read more
Global Rhythms - Anders Osborne
You'd never guess gravel-voiced guitarist Anders Osborne didn't grow up in New Orleans. But the Swedish native only noticed his daughter's accent when his son was born just before Mardi Gras. "She was saying 'Ahndahhhs,'" he says. "I was like, 'No, that's not how you say it." Osborne has New Orleans vibes running so deep... Read more
You'd never guess gravel-voiced guitarist Anders Osborne didn't grow up in New Orleans. But the Swedish native only noticed his daughter's accent when his son was born just before Mardi Gras. "She was saying 'Ahndahhhs,'" he says. "I was like, 'No, that's not how you say it." Osborne has New Orleans vibes running so deep... Read more
Cajun & Zydeco - Feufollet
School might not seem like a favorite subject for a band of teenagers but for the members of Feufollet, it helped launch a start in Cajun music. French language immersion programs in Lafayette schools reconnected them with their Cajun heritage. Read more
School might not seem like a favorite subject for a band of teenagers but for the members of Feufollet, it helped launch a start in Cajun music. French language immersion programs in Lafayette schools reconnected them with their Cajun heritage. Read more
Cajun & Zydeco - Wills Prudhomme
Willis Prudhomme may be the Grandma Moses of zydeco. A lifelong rice farmer in western Cajun Country, he didn't start playing accordion until he was 45. "People don't believe I'm an old man," he laughs. Given his boisterous spirit and salty lyrics, it's not hard to see why people... Read more
Willis Prudhomme may be the Grandma Moses of zydeco. A lifelong rice farmer in western Cajun Country, he didn't start playing accordion until he was 45. "People don't believe I'm an old man," he laughs. Given his boisterous spirit and salty lyrics, it's not hard to see why people... Read more
Fats Domino
After selling 65 million records, in his heyday alone, and gaining international fame as one of the architects of rock and roll, Antoine Fats Domino is still a homebody. "I live 18 blocks from the home where I was born." Domino says. "I guess I could have lived anywhere but I like New Orleans." Read more
After selling 65 million records, in his heyday alone, and gaining international fame as one of the architects of rock and roll, Antoine Fats Domino is still a homebody. "I live 18 blocks from the home where I was born." Domino says. "I guess I could have lived anywhere but I like New Orleans." Read more