Issue Articles
Chief of Chiefs: Robert Nathaniel Lee and the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans (Book Review)
Robert Nathaniel Lee, renowned as Big Chief Robbe, tells of his lifelong journey in the Mardi Gras Indian tradition as carefully as author Al Kennedy does in capturing it in […]
Walter “Wolfman” Washington My Future Is My Past (ANTI- Records)
The title of the great New Orleans guitarist and vocalist Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s latest release, My Future Is My Past, tells a lot about the philosophical tone of the album. […]
Terence Blanchard, Live (Blue Note)
Trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard continues the conversation on violence between law enforcement and African American citizens that he addressed musically and philosophically on his 2015 Grammy-nominated album Breathless. This […]
Alvin Fielder: Keeping the motion in the music with Kidd Jordan
“The first time Kidd and I played together in 1974 it was like instead of a kinship it was a twin-ship,” remembers master drummer Alvin Fielder of saxophonist Kidd Jordan. […]
Drums in the Bloodline: Weedie Braimah brings the African element to the music
Djembe master Weedie Braimah will be on stage at the Jazz Fest with trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, trombonist/trumpeter Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, percussionists Alexey Marti and Bill Summers and […]
Cycles and Seasons: David Murray makes rare appearances
Tenor saxophonist, bass clarinetist and jazz giant David Murray, an amazingly prolific recording artist, boasts his own rich sound and keeps things popping with his constantly fresh outlook. Murray, who […]
A Circus and a Christmas Tree: Pianist Brian Haas, Nolatet’s fearless fourth wheel
“He’s fearless,” is how bassist and trumpeter James Singleton once described pianist Brian Haas, his fellow bandmate in the super-group Nolatet. “He has no jazz industrial complex baggage. He’s classically […]
40 Years at Jazz Fest: Back (and forth) with Geraldine Wyckoff
Geraldine Wyckoff has immersed herself in the music and culture of New Orleans ever since she moved to the city. A music journalist who is well-respected by both musicians and […]
In Memoriam: Thomas “Big Chief Tom” Sparks Sr.
At the celebration of life for Thomas “Big Chief Tom” Sparks Sr., on March 24, 2018, the most important elements of his life were fully represented. Sparks was a family […]
Walter “Wolfman” Washington talks back
“It was definitely different—I’ve never done nothin’ like that before,” declares Walter “Wolfman” Washington in regards to his new album, My Future Is My Past. Folks who know Washington as […]
