On Thursday, May 2, GRAMMY-winning New Orleans musician PJ Morton will host the Buddy Bolden Block Party, a celebratory kick-off for what may be his most important project to date.
As reported in the November 2018 cover story of OffBeat, Morton’s family owns the property on which legendary cornetist (and jazz progenitor) Buddy Bolden’s former home sits. Morton has plans to turn the historic home into “Buddy’s House,” a YMCA of sorts for New Orleans kids to learn about Bolden, music and more. At the time, he said “What gives me chills every time I talk about it is this is supposedly the house where Buddy sat on the stoop because he got kicked out of his house for playing his horn too loud. His friend down the street heard him playing the horn and that started the band they created together that started jazz music. That gives me chills. That stoop is there. It may not have been that exact story, but that stoop is there. This is the stoop that created jazz. It’s oral tradition. King Oliver says that’s the first time he heard Buddy’s horn. Louis says he heard it from King Oliver. That’s why I want to make sure it’s taken care of.”
Located at 2309 First St. in Central City, the Bolden house will be the headquarters for next week’s free block party. In addition to Morton, other performers include New Orleans hip-hop icon and DJ Mannie Fresh, as well as local DJ G-Cue. The event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and will include food.
Morton will appear at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday, April 26.
