| There
are many wonderful things about New Orleans, and her native
music, jazz, is one of the best. Here we celebrate life and
death with jazz. Whether it's a jazz brunch on Sunday, a jazz
band in a street parade, or a jazz funeral on Friday, there's
always jazz to be heard in New Orleans. No trip to New Orleans
would be complete without a visit to one of the great jazz
clubs around town. Here are some of my favorites.
1) Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall,located at 726 St. Peter
St. in New Orleans' French Quarter, is probably the most well
known of all the jazz clubs in the city. Here you can hear
the traditional acoustic New Orleans jazz. Everything you
are familiar with, like the second lines of Mardi Gras and
the dirges of the jazz funerals are staples. One thing to
know about Preservation Hall, there is no food nor drink.
Just pure New Orleans jazz at its best.
2) Fritzel's
Fritzel's, located at 733 Bourbon Street,
has the atmosphere of a neighborhood pub and is often frequented
by local musicians. Here you can dance the second line to
the jazz clarinet skillfully played by Ryan Burrage on weekends.
3) French Quarter Bar
This classy bar at the Ritz-Carlton on Canal
Street is a great place to people watch since there are often
reports of movie star sightings. Lately I've heard John Cusack,
Britney Spears, Kate Hudson and Dustin Hoffman have been seen
here. So, if you don't mind paying about $15.00 for a glass
of wine, enjoy the elegant surroundings of the French Quarter
Bar. And the music is pretty good too! Jeremy Davenport sings
and plays the trumpet in great style.
4) Ray's over the River
Ray's Over the River is not only a great place
to hear jazz, it's also a very romantic place. It's on the
31st floor of the World Trade Center (Yes New Orleans has
one too.) Ray's offers fabulous views of the Mississippi River
and city through it's glass walls. Irvin Mayfield, who has
been officially designated a cultural ambassador for the city
of New Orleans was brought in as a consulting partner. Gregory
Davis of Dirty Dozen Brass Band fame, plays the trumpet in
this upscale jazz joint.
5) Colbalt
Colbalt Restaurant & Bar in the Hotel
Monacon at 333 St. Charles Avenue is in the middle of the
Central Business District and is the favorite places for young
execs to chill at the end of a work week at a jazz happy hour.
On Fridays David Torkanowsky plays both jazz and New Orleans
music on his piano. Colbalt is also a great restaurant and
offers a good jazz brunch on Sunday.
6) Snug Harbor
At the down-river end of the French Quarter,
you will find Fauburg Marigny, and Frenchmen Street in "the
Marigny" as the locals call the area, is the place to
be for good food and music. The oldest and still the best
is Snug Harbor music hall on Frenchmen Street. (626 Frenchmen)Here
Nicholas Payton grew up and Alan Toussaint made his jazz debut.
The focus at Snug Harbor is modern jazz and it features local
talent.
7) Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club
Sweet Lorraine's is another great place for
modern jazz. It's a short taxi ride to 1931 St. Claude Avenue,
and it's worth it. Sweet Lorraine's was recently renovated
thanks to a fire and is now has a classy art deco feel. Sweet
Lorriane's features mostly local talent, but has some great
successes in bringing in out-of-town greats like Gato Brbieri
and David "Fathead" Newman.
8) Vaughan's
Vaughan's is a bar, pure and simple. It's
as down-scale as you can get. But Vaughan's has great music
six nights a week. Get there on Thursday to hear Kermit Ruffins
and the Barbecue Swingers. Harry Connick, Jr. and Wynton Marsalis
have shown up on Thursdays to sit in with Kermit, who is a
New Orleans icon. Expect no frills and drink beer and you'll
love it.
9) Donna's Bar & Grill
If you're into no frills, and you liked Vaughan's,
try Donna's. Located at the edge of the French Quarter at
800 N. Rampart Street, Donna's hosts the Treme Brass Band
on most Fridays, and usually on Monday's you can here Bob
Fench, a local jazz drummer and singer.
10) The Jazz Parlon at Storyville
At 125 Bourbon Street, right off Canal, is
the Jazz Parlor. On Mondays Tim Laughlin, a traditional jazz
clarinetist plays.
The
History Of Jazz | Guitars
- One For Each Style | The
State of Jazz | Styles
of Jazz Music - part 1 |
Styles
of Jazz Music - part 2 |
Jazz
Improvisation | London
Jazz Guide |
Top
places for Jazz in New Orleans |
Four
Jazz Artists On the Move
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