Issue Articles
Fest Focus: Black Stalin
Jazz Fest got lucky this year. When it booked calypsonian Black Stalin to appear on the first Saturday, nobody knew that the pygmy-sized ball of fire was about to win […]
Mr. Harold Dejan: A Life in Music Examined
Harold “Duke” Dejan, the 86-year-old leader of Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band, had come to the backyard studio of producer/Olympia trumpet player Milton Batiste on this April morning to be interviewed. […]
Fest Focus: Ivan Neville
When a guy like Keith Richards says you’re partying too hard, it’s probably time to slow down. That, at least, is how Ivan Neville sees it. The 35-year-old son of […]
Alex Chilton Lets Them Scream
Alex Chilton is strolling through the women’s clothing section of the Woolworth’s at Rampart and Canal, discussing astrology and rain coats. Astrology had come up a few moments ago at […]
Leo Nocentelli’s Nocentelli
“Make sure you get the name right,” cautions Leo Nocentelli over the phone from his home in North Hollywood. “This isn’t the Meters.” The former Meters guitarist is secure about […]
Meter Men: An OffBeat Interview with Art Neville and George Porter, Jr.
“I see how this is gonna be.” That was Art Neville’s pronouncement ten minutes into a joint interview with George Porter, Jr., his musical collaborator of almost 30 years. Neville […]
Night Crawl: OffBeat’s Annual Guide to Fest Life After Dark
Hey, hey, hey, it’s that time again. Hope y’all are well-rested when you arrive for Jazz Fest because with all the incredible music in town, you will be crawling on […]
Gospel Rocks Out
From Tipitina’s to the Gospel Tent, spiritual music is not just for church anymore. Revelry has reached a feverish pitch at Tipitina’s on the eve of Mardi Gras, vibrating […]
Where’s Da Wax?
Don’t let that Jazz Fest glow fade with the memories. From rarities and classics to the latest releases, New Orleans is a goldmine for music collectors of every stripe. Here’s […]
Fest Focus: Dr. Michael White
A stern black-and-white portrait of “Papa John” Joseph, bass poised, hangs over the mantle in Dr. Michael White’s home office. White, a native New Orleans traditional jazz clarinetist, inspects the […]