Since the Grammy people gave a truckload o' awards to New Orleans artists, the national music folks may decide to come down south and see what we have to offer.

The Nevilles, Dr. John, the Marsalis clan and Harry Connick, Jr. have made names for themselves doing what is expected to come naturally out of New Orleans—R&B, funk and jazz. But there is more, oh so much more, to be experienced here. And some local bands, while not knowing a saxophone or an African rhythm if it whacked them o...