Issue Articles — Features
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Fest Focus: Ambrose Sam
Ambrose Sam may be the oldest living Creole accordionist. A dark-haired contemporary of Clifton Chenier, Cleveland Chenier and Boozoo Chavis, the brown-skinned Sam is now 75 years old. Sitting in […]
Fest Focus: Dr. Bob
Dr. Bob Shaffer says people accuse him of never finishing what he’s started. He sees it differently. “Only an artist knows when it’s done,” he says with his cool-green gaze. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: Archie Shepp
When thinking of the great, innovative saxophone players that came up in the 1960s, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman come to mind. Unfortunately, Archie Shepp has almost been […]
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 […]