Issue Articles
Unique and Energetic: André Bohren is busy with a multi-tiered career
Last year at the Jazz Fest Kids’ Tent, André Bohren and the Electric Yat Quartet performed Peter and the Wolf, Sergei Prokofiev’s symphonic work for children. This year Bohren and the string quartet will present an encore of Peter and the Wolf as well as a new segment, music trivia for youngsters. The trivia part of the show will include music from the animated feature film Toy Story, the Beatles’ children’s song, “Yellow Submarine,” and more melodies plucked from pop culture.
Cajunize: 50 Years of BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
In February, the world’s most famous Cajun band celebrated its 50th anniversary year with two nights of concerts. The Grammy-winning BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet invited a stage full of friends and collaborators to the hometown party at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette. Guests included Sonny Landreth, Don Vappie, Dickie Landry, Steve Conn, Tiff Lamson, Annick Colbert, Gary Newman, Chad Viator and former BeauSoleil members Tommy Alesi and Jimmy Breaux.
Your Very Own Dream: Clay Parker and Jodi James go electric
Clay Parker and Jodi James are making their third Jazz Fest appearance this year. The Baton Rouge singer-songwriters first performed at the Festival in 2018, a memorable debut for the musical duo that’s a couple in real life.
Susanne Ortner: From Germany to New Orleans to Brazil
Susanne Ortner, a clarinetist from Germany who’s lived in New Orleans since 2017, makes her Jazz Fest debut. She’s performing with Susanne Ortner’s Macumba, a small ensemble that plays Brazilian choro music. A distinctive musical style that emerged from Rio de Janeiro in the late 19th century, choro is considered the father of samba and grandfather of bossa nova.
A Tribute to Allen Toussaint’s Legacy: New Orleans Ballet Association presents Whirlaway
On May 10, 2014, Parsons Dance and the Allen Toussaint Orchestra will premiere Whirlaway. Commissioned by the New Orleans Ballet Association, the work paired David Parsons’ contemporary dance choreography with music by the beloved New Orleans songwriter, pianist and producer Allen Toussaint.
Ledisi Talks Back
Ledisi’s Good Life tour is bringing her home to New Orleans. Even though the Grammy-winning singing star and actress was just 10 years old when she moved to Oakland, California, she carries the city of her birth with her everywhere she goes.
Guitar Gumbo: The New Orleans International Guitar Festival
With the theme “Guitar Gumbo,” the 2024 New Orleans International Guitar Festival takes place March 5 through March 8. This year’s eclectic array of international artists includes Cuarteto de Guitarras de la Ciudad de Mexico, Jose Angel Perez Puentes, Geovane Santos, Alexis “Papo” Guevarra, Rafael Padron and the NOLA String Kings. The festival includes the Elias Barreiro Young Artists Competition, named in honor of the 93-year-old founder of Tulane’s guitar department.
2024 Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival: A conversation with featured artist Corey Harris
Corey Harris, the blues and beyond singer-guitarist who lived in New Orleans in the 1990s, is returning to the city for an appearance at the Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival. A Virginia resident since 1997, Harris and his band will also perform March 8 at Snug Harbor.
Pat Metheny talks back
The always exploring jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny is bringing his first solo tour to New Orleans. The international Dream Box tour, which reaches the Orpheum Theater on March 16, follows last year’s release of Metheny’s Grammy-nominated solo album of the same name.
The 100th anniversary of Slim Harpo: Baton Rouge’s most successful blues recording artist
This year is the 100th anniversary year of Slim Harpo’s birth. Although 1924 is the agreed upon year of his birth, the month of his birth is widely misreported. This identical disagreement—regarding the month a famous Louisiana musician was born—has also existed for Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John, and Louis Armstrong.
