By Eli Kahn-Woods and Marlie Wilson
Over April break, the Katrina Project sponsored a Martin Luther King Action Project in New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA). Although the eighteen students and three chaperones’ first priority was to assist in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, we were also privileged to experience some of the country’s finest music.
New Orleans is famous for its contributions to jazz, blues, gospel and funk. It has bred world renowned musicians such as Harry Connick Jr., the Marsalis Brothers, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Galactic and Lil’ Wayne--to name a few. Moreover, our group from L-S was thankful to find that Hurricane Katrina was not able to wash away any aspect of New Orleans’ multifaceted culture.
Our first encounter with the Big Easy’s nightlife came with our visit to the French Quarter. We arrived early at around 7:00 PM, but the atmosphere was already thick with music. Most of the bars and clubs had music blasting from their open doors. We did not realize that we were experiencing only the very periphery of the French Quarter‘s music scene.
We ventured deeper into the heart of the French Quarter. Our destination: Bourbon Street--the touristy hot spot of New Orleans. Music, laughter and general chatter emanated from every restaurant, bar and store. The vibrant street was illuminated by countless neon signs. As we walked from end to end, we listened to the colorful collage of live bands from all genres which graced the bars and restaurants--occasionally peeking in to watch a group who particularly piqued our interest.
The biggest thrill of the night, however, came from an unexpected source: the To Be Continued Brass Band. It consisted of two drummers, three trombones, two trumpets, one sousaphone and one tenor saxophone. Parked on the street (as opposed to in a bar or club), they attracted a crowd of people all ages, many of whom were dancing wildly. This tight group had punchy melodies, playful solos and they even dropped their horns to sing every now and then. Their grooves attracted our group from a quarter mile away, and we only reluctantly left with the closing of their set.
Not only did our group have the opportunity to explore New Orleans, but we also were very lucky to be able to experience a day of NOLA’s annual Jazz Fest. Jazz Fest is not just jazz, as the name might imply. The festival, which runs over the course of two weekends, features gospel, funk, jazz, world, rock, folk, country, and more. The talent ranges from hidden, local gems to internationally recognized names.
On the Friday that our group was able to check out Jazz Fest, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin played with talented country star Alison Krauss. Sheryl Crow rocked out on her guitar to thousands of fans. Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 spit rhymes with LA-based Ozomatli, who also invited a local New Orleans high school marching band to play along with them. Jazz legend and New Orleans resident Ellis Marsalis hit all the right notes on a baby grand piano. Local band Sam’s Funky Nation blew the crowd away with their incredible energy and spunk.
Though the event was at times crowded and rainy, the experience was overwhelmingly positive. Not only was there fantastic live music, but authentic NOLA cuisine and artisans peddling their handmade creations. All in all, Jazz Fest was an unforgettable experience that we were very fortunate to see.
