Issue Articles
Lawrence Sieberth
Composer, pianist and producer Lawrence Sieberth has appeared with an enormous number of musicians over the course of his 50-year career and has performed in virtually every setting, from appearing on television with Willie Nelson, to international festivals and intimate concert halls. Through it all, he has remained dedicated to new styles of music and working with new musicians.
Michael Skinkus
The percussionist Michael Skinkus took the name for Moyuba, his sacred drum and song ensemble, from the Yoruba word meaning, “I pay homage to” or “I salute you.” He led the band performing the sanctified songs of the orisha since its beginnings as a trio that played for young audiences in the late 1990s.
Craig Klein
“The notes that he played were always the most perfect ones, always perfect,” said Craig Klein in a phone interview when asked why he organized a tribute to fellow trombonist Waldren “Frog” Joseph. Klein went on to wax eloquently about one of his musical heroes in the same mix of reverence for the performer and deep knowledge of traditional jazz that he uses as a programmer on WWOZ radio.
Karl Denson: King of Jazz Fest Late Night
When Karl Denson played at the Jazz Fest a year ago, he was on the main stage with the Rolling Stones. The saxophonist and flautist has been one of the rock band’s touring musicians since 2014 when he replaced the Stones longtime horn man, the great Bobby Keys.
Calypso Head: Charlie and the Tropicales
Trombonist Charlie Halloran is best known around town as a first-call traditional jazz musician. But that may change as more and more fans are flocking to performances by his pan-Caribbean band, Charlie and the Tropicales.
Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars: Winning Over A Crowd
If NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest handed out medals like at the Olympics, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars would have taken home the silver as runner-up in 2024. Since then, the former underground seven-piece band led by singer and songwriter Sal Geloso has taken off like a gold medal-winning sprinter.
Rachel Carrico: Dancing the Politics of Pleasure at the New Orleans Second Line (University of Illinois Press)
Dance Studies professor and author Rachel Carrico moved to New Orleans, like so many young creatives, in the years after Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levees that flooded 80 percent of the city. She made many connections and immersed herself in the Black culture of the city. She eventually even joined the Ice Divas, a social and pleasure club, after attending numerous second line parades and is one of the few white people currently parading as a member of one of the city’s many clubs.
Donna’s Bar and Grill: Donna Poniatowski Sims’ new book is a labor of love
The history of New Orleans music is overflowing with venues where the musicians of the city have piled their trade and developed the myriad of styles the city has been known for since its earliest days. From the Funky Butt and the Iroquois Theater on North Rampart Street where Buddy Bolden and a young Louis Armstrong wowed early 20th century crowds to the famed Dew Drop Inn on Lasalle Street in Central City, which was an epicenter on both the national “chitlin’ circuit” and home to local R&B legends like Earl King and Guitar Slim.
Mia Borders: Firewalker (Blaxican Records)
Since bursting on the scene with a sound that was both invigoratingly fresh and pleasingly retro, Mia Borders has carved out a space for herself in a New Orleans scene that isn’t always open to both.
The Secret Six Jazz Band: Fireworks (Independent)
Well, another year has gone by, and we have another Secret Six album to enjoy. Featuring many of the same players that have appeared on the last two recordings as well as regulars like leader and bassist John Joyce and banjoist Hunter Bergamy, the album explores similar traditional jazz territory and includes familiar tunes as well as some obscurities. As with all of the band’s releases, the liner notes include the musicians’ favorite versions of the songs.
