January 2021
Cover Story
- Robin Barnes: From Songbird to Firebird
According to the ancient Greeks, the phoenix—the firebird—was a long-lived bird that was cyclically born again and regenerated by rising from…
Features
- The 50 Best Albums Of 2020 In Louisiana Music
In 2020 the pandemic may have stopped live music, but recorded music continued with too many great albums to include. As… - Letters to the Editor
Still Too Dangerous At age 71, I'm not the party guy I used to be. I was in New Orleans a… - Jazz Precedes Zydeco? A fallen book illuminates a path to self-discovery for Corey Ledet
Normally a book falling off a shelf isn’t supposed to illuminate a path to self-discovery and a more in-depth examination of… - "For All We Know," Jason Marsalis talks about the last Ellis Marsalis recording
The final recording by the late, beloved Ellis Marsalis took place in February 2020, and by April, Mr. Marsalis was lost… - "Everyone Goes There" New Orleans’ premier guitar techs discuss their shop, their city, and the Dewey Cox Story
On the corner of Oak and Dublin Streets, paces from the Carrolton Streetcar line and blocks from that New Orleans funk… - A Win For All Of Us: The New Orleans Nightcrawlers grab a Grammy nomination
Update: The New Orleans Nightcrawlers won their first Grammy Award on March 14. For a professional musician, a Grammy Award nomination… - Ancestral Grooves—Terrance Simien and friends lets the good times roll
In 1950, Louis Jordan, Fats Domino, Ruth Brown and other black artists were churning out rhythm and blues hits that built… - Ann Savoy Talks Back
Not long after Ann Savoy relocated to Eunice, Louisiana, following her marriage to musician and accordion builder Marc Savoy, the Richmond,…
Online Exclusive
- Simple Sound Retreat Pens Musical Thank You Note to New Orleans
The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” Kakuzo Okakura It’s no secret that performers have…
Fresh
- Jon Batiste puts his musical spirit into Pixar's "Soul"
Soul, the amusing and affecting new film from Pixar Animation Studios, adds another stellar credit to Kenner native Jon Batiste’s résumé.… - Ken Burns’ "Jazz" returns to PBS
Jazz, Ken Burns’ 10-part history of jazz music, gets a 20th-anniversary encore in January. The series’ first episode, “Gumbo,” returns to…
OffBeat Eats
- Dining Out: Luvi Restaurant specializes in raw seafood with Shanghai and Japanese flair
For Chef Hao Gong, his restaurant Luvi is a family affair. Named after his daughters, Lulu and Violet, the beautiful space…
Reviews
- New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Atmosphere (Threadhead Records)
“Who’s in the band?” is often the first question asked by ardent music enthusiasts. When it comes to the New… - Johnnie Allan, Something Old, Something New (Jin Records)
Octogenarian Johnnie Allan never thought he would step into a recording studio again at the twilight of his career. That is… - Sonny Green, Found! One Soul Singer (Little Village Foundation)
Hailing from Monroe, Louisiana, but made a “name” in South L.A., this soulful dude is Tony the Tiger great! In the… - A Band Name Hyckoriii, Rural Life: The Soundtrack (Independent)
An unconventional trio from Baton Rouge, A Band Name Hyckoriii—pronounced hickory—reveals talent and imagination in the 14-track album Rural Life: The… - Johnny Nicholas, Mistaken Identity (Valcour Records)
Texas Hill Country roots musician Johnny Nicolas hails his Valcour Records debut as a homecoming of sorts and for good reason:… - Various Artists, New Orleans Mambo – Cuba to Nola (Putumayo World Music)
Listening to this recording is similar to having a knowledgeable friend spin some tunes that fit together in many likely though… - Jimmie Vaughan, The Pleasure’s All Mine: The Complete Blues, Ballads and Favourites (Last Music Company)
How can you say anything bad about this one? Over two dozen of my/your favorite tunes played by a stellar Austin…
