Almanac Music: The music of New Orleans – Traditional Jazz and The Preservation Hall

 

Over the coming weeks on the Footy Almanac, I will be introducing readers to the music of New Orleans in all its forms. I have travelled to New Orleans for the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and have fallen in love with the music and culture of the city and wish to share the sounds of this great city. As they say in New Orleans; ‘Laissez le bon temps rouler’ – ‘Let the good times roll’. 

 

The Music of New Orleans: The Preservation Hall
(Image:CGR)

 

New Orleans is one of the great music centres of the world. Besides being the birthplace of jazz there are many other musical genres synonymous with the ‘Big Easy’; such as cajun, zydeco, the blues, rock and roll, and of course funk to name a few.

 

On any night, in one of the many clubs and bars you will find musicians playing a variety of these styles around the French Quarter. And, on every street corner you are sure to hear and see many of the fantastic buskers who ply their trade in the Quarter. Tuba Skinny is one of my favourite NO bands. They busk the streets of the French Quarter as well as many of the venues there. They have toured Australia, I first saw them at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Check out their performance.

 

 

On St Peter St can be found The Preservation Hall where daily performances of traditional New Orleans Jazz featuring ensembles from a collective of over 50 master jazz players. It is jazz as it was originally played, acoustically in small intimate venues to an appreciative audience.

 

(Image:CGR)

 

The Preservation Hall on St Peter
(Image:CGR)

 

The quintessential song of New Orleans: ‘When the Saints go Marchin’ in’

 

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band live from The Preservation Hall.

 

Do you know how ‘jazz’ got its name? The Storyville district was the red-light area of NO. Apparently, musicians were invited to provide entertainment for the ‘jezebels’ and their clients. The musicians adopted a style of music they said was music for the ‘jezzes’ which later morphed into word ‘jazz’. That type of jazz is now known as Traditional New Orleans Jazz.

 

Read more stories from Almanac Music  HERE

 

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