Issue Articles — Features
The Revealers: Reggae and then Some
As trombones and trumpets blare through the House of Blues, someone shouts “Work it girl!” as Theresa’s grandmother second lines to the music. While NewBirth Brass Band performs onstage, backstage […]
100: The 100 Essential Louisiana CDs, Part 9
In late 1997, the Offbeat staff began developing the list of the 100 Essential Louisiana CDs. Our goal was to pick the 100 compact discs that, Individually, represented influential and/or […]
No More Honey in the Horn: Al Hirt 1922-1999
A riot of colors swirled around the parade start area next to the Gospel Tent of the final day of Jazzfest 30. The afternoon sun gently smiled down on the […]
Jazz Fest, from “A” to “Z”
A Acoustic Swiftness, SAT 4/24, LAGN, 3:10, largely acoustic guitar group that plays snazzy Latino riffs with style. Adelia, Adelia The Storyteller, SAT 4/24, KIDS, 1:30, Engaging storytelling from […]
New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Shrines: A Guided Tour
Ernie K-Doe once declared, ”I’m not sure, but I’m almost positive, that all music came from New Orleans.” While some might debate K-Doe’s blanket observation, it is a fact that […]
They Play. You Dance. That’s It. The World According to ReBirth
There are a lot of things about New Orleans that outsiders find odd-that St. Patrick’s Day is a de facto postal holiday, for example, or that the recently deceased must […]
Branford Marsalis: Musician as Iconoclast
On Friday, April 30th, The Jazz & Heritage Festival welcomes home saxophonist Branford Marsalis, a New Orleans son who is undoubtedly one of the most important, and controversial, figures in […]
Pah-Rade!
Sitting one hot afternoon for an interview at the former Lu and Charlie’s jazz club in August of 1974, James Black, one of the great unsung drummers of modern New […]
Zydeco!
A new collaboration by photographer Rick Olivier and journalist/musician Ben Sandmel, Published by the University Press of Mississippi covers the musical phenomenon of zydeco. From Creole folk roots to the […]
Groovy! Dude! New Orleans Musical Nicknames
Slim, Red, La La, Tee Tee, Foots, Nose, String Bean, Snowflake, Half A Head, June, Daddy, Pipes, Buck, Pee Wee, Queenie, Stale Bread, Turkey Neck, Groovy, Okey Dokey: sometimes it […]
