MUSIC

New Orleans musicians truly represent a potpourri of musical richness, performing everything from zydeco and gospel to jazz, rhythm and blues and new age rock. Music is literally in the air, at street parades, jazz funerals, seasonal festivals, and drifting from open doors all around the city, beckoning all who are willing to let the spirit move them.

The Crescent City is best known for jazz, which made some of its most significant advances here —thanks to music pioneers like Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton. Traditional jazz is alive and healthy today, several generations later, fostered at establishments such as Preservation Hall and the Palm Court Cafe by musicians like Percy Humphrey, Wendell Brunious, Pud Brown and Dr. Michael White.

New Orleans also boasts some of the finest modern jazz players around, such as Red Tyler, Tony Dagradi, and Peter Martin, as well as avant garde jazz artists like Edward “Kidd” Jordan, Alvin Batiste and Earl Turbinton, who play at uniquely New Orleans venues like Snug Harbor and Cafe Brasil. Pianist Ellis Marsalis and his talented offspring, the Grammy-winning Wynton, former "Tonight Show" bandleader Branford, and younger brothers Delfeayo and Jason, continue to wow audiences at home and abroad with their inspirational jazz performances.

Rhythm and blues finds its spiritual home here too, having developed in the late 1950's when local artists like Fats Domino topped the music billboards. The "Fat Man’s" sound, masterminded by his luminary was the late, great pianist Professor Longhair – whose spirit still lives on at Tipitina’s, the king of New Orleans’ jamming music clubs. 

Gospel music, the heart and inspiration of music like jazz and R&B, has passionate expression in the city as well. There are literally hundreds of gospel groups in New Orleans, many of which play commercial venues. Groups like the 50-year-old Zion Harmonizers quartet and the 60-member-strong Gospel Soul Children, as well as soloists such as Joe “Cool” Davis are celebrated nationally, adored internationally, and can be heard right here at home at the House of Blues and Tipitina’s as well as various gospel festivals.

Of course, contemporary rock and roll is shaking the rafters too, thanks to homegrown bands like the Radiators, Dash Rip Rock, Cowboy Mouth and the Subdudes. Not only do these bands loyally play their spirited music to hooked natives, but they tour and collaborate with noted musical leaders like Bruce Springsteen, Los Lobos, Edie Brickell, and Linda Ronstadt. You can catch the local rock and roll scene at Jimmy’s, Tipitina’s and the Howlin’ Wolf.

Cajun and zydeco music are especially unique factors in the local scene. You can cut the rug in town at Cajun restaurant/clubs like Mulate’s and Michaul’s, or at the Maple Leaf Bar or Tipitina’s. For the complete Cajun/zydeco cultural experience, drive west a couple of hours to Slim’s Y-KiKi in Opelousas, Grant Street Dance Hall in Lafayette or Richard’s (pronounced “REE-shards”) in Lawtell.

New Orleans also has  thriving Latin music led by Ruben “Mr. Salsa” Gonzales, Acoustic Swiftness, Casa Samba and the Iguanas. Wherever you go, for whatever type of music, remember that the Big Easy’s nightclubs have no mandatory closing time, and informal dress is just fine.

Annually, music luminaries gather to pay homage to their craft at the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which attracted nearly 500,000 people in 2000 and garnered about $200 million. The city celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the birth of jazz in 1995, with a variety of special events, competitions, and activities designed to promote and invigorate the local music industry. Another innovation on the music scene is a promotional partnership between the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau and the convention and visitor bureaus of Memphis and St. Louis, organized to promote the musical “Mississippi Corridor” linking the three cities. The Mississippi River historically served as a Southern lifeline for blues and, especially, jazz music, carrying new ideas and innovations along its currents and giving jazz and blues musicians work on its riverboats.

New Orleans R&B artist Ernie K-Doe once mused, "I’m not sure, but I’m almost positive, that all music came from New Orleans." Dance around the streets and courtyards of this Southern jazz city, and you’ll be convinced as well. 

A SAMPLING OF NEW ORLEANS’ LIVE MUSIC NIGHTSPOTS:

Cafe Brasil

2100 Chartres, 947-9386 Jazz, R&B, zydeco, R&B, Latin, reggae

Can Can Cafe

Royal Sonesta Hotel, 340 Bourbon Street, 553-2372 Dixieland jazz

Checkpoint Charlie’s

501 Esplanade Avenue, 947-0979 R&B, jazz, alternative rock, rockabilly, blues

Famous Door

339 Bourbon, 522-7626 Jazz

House of Blues

225 Decatur, 529-1421 Rock, alternative rock, R&B, blues, zydeco, contemporary jazz, funk, gospel. Local and national acts

Howlin’ Wolf

828 S. Peters, 523-2551 Contemporary rock

Jazz Meridien

614 Canal, The Meridien Hotel; 525-6500 Jazz

Jimmy’s

8200 Willow, 861-8200 Contemporary rock, reggae, latin

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville

1104 Decatur, 592-2560 Rock, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, piano. Local and national musicians

Maple Leaf  Bar

8316 Oak Street, 866-9359 Zydeco, R&B, reggae, Cajun

Michaul’s Live Cajun Music Restaurant

840 St. Charles Ave., 522-5517 Cajun

Mid City Lanes Rock-n-Bowl

4133 S. Carrollton, 482-3133 R&B, zydeco, rockabilly, blues

Mulate’s

201 Julia, 522-1492 Cajun

Palm Court Jazz Cafe

1204 Decatur Street, 525-0200 Traditional jazz

Pete Fountain’s Night Club

Hilton Riverside, #2 Poydras Street, 523-6255 Jazz

Preservation Hall,

726 St. Peter, 522-2841 Traditional jazz

Rhythm’s

227 Bourbon Street, 523-3800 Rhythm and blues

Richelieu Room (at Arnauds Restaurant)

813 Bienville, 523-2847 '40's Jazz

Snug Harbor

626 Frenchmen Street, 949-0696 Contemporary jazz, R&B

Tipitina’s

Uptown: 501 Napoleon Avenue, 895-8477

French Quarter: 233 North Peters, 895-8477

Warehouse: 310 Howard Ave., 895-8477

(Home of the late Professor Longhair and the Neville Brothers) Rock, alternative rock, New Orleans funk, gospel, zydeco, blues, contemporary jazz, Cajun. Local and national musicians.

Prepared by the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Public Affairs Department .