April Performances at the
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
April is Jazz Appreciation Month and what better way to celebrate this rich
part of our national heritage than to attend some of these great programs
offered at the park? We are proud to partner with the Smithsonian and the
French Quarter Festival to offer an expanded schedule of performances and
educational jazz programs. For other great ideas on how to participate in
Jazz Appreciation Month visit
www.smithsonianjazz.org.
Wednesday, April 2
Richard Scott
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz and stride piano styles,
Richard Scott dazzles in this hour long performance.
Friday, April 4
Jesse Lewis Quartet
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Fluid and soulful guitarist Jesse Lewis leads his quartet in a program of
jazz standards and original compositions.
Andrew Wright
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Andrew Wright wraps up our jazz guitar spotlight with a swinging set from
his popular trio.
Saturday, April 5
11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Kids Program with the Treme Brass Band
Children are invited to bring their own instruments for this traditional
jazz workshop with members of the Treme Brass Band.
Frank Oxley & the Joint Chiefs of Jazz
2:00 -3:30 p.m.
Drummer Frank Oxley leads his stately 7 piece traditional jazz outfit in a
program of New Orleans favorites.
Wednesday, April 9
Tom McDermott
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz and Brazilian piano styles,
Tom McDermott dazzles in this hour long performance.
Friday, April 11 - 12
New Orleans International Music Colloquium and French Quarter Festival
9:30 -4:30 p.m.
Two fascinating days of music scholars presenting educational programs
inside the visitor center about Jazz! This year’s theme is Storyville:
Myths, Realities, and Music?
Outside the visitor center, a full lineup of performances designed for kids
is sure to excite the whole family.
Saturday, April 12 (French Market Performance Pavilion)
11:00 - 12:00 a.m.
Kids Program with the Storyville Stompers
Children are invited to bring their own instruments for this traditional
jazz workshop with members of the Storyville Stompers Brass Band.
12:30 – 1:30
Free Spirit Drummers, Dancers, & Stilts
African drumming, dancing, and a special stilt walker are all part of this
special participatory kid’s program led by Zohar Israel!
(April 12 cont.)
2:00 – 3:30
Society Brass Band
Kids will love following the sharply dressed grand marshal while dancing to
the sounds of this 11 piece traditional New Orleans Brass Band.
4:00 – 5:15
Casa Samba
Curtis Pierre leads this famous samba group in a performance of Brazilian
music with plenty of audience participation.
5:30 – 6:45
Doreens Jazz Orleans
Clarinetist Doreen Ketchens demonstrates some of the particulars of New
Orleans jazz to kids.
Wednesday, April 16
Tom McDermott
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz and Brazilian piano styles,
Tom McDermott dazzles in this hour long performance.
Friday, April 18
Evan Christopher & Django a’ la Creole
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Clarinet great Evan Christopher leads this swinging band in a program of
Django Reinhardt influenced jazz.
Saturday, April 19
11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Kids Program with the Storyville Stompers
Children are invited to bring their own instruments for this traditional
jazz workshop with members of the Storyville Stompers Brass Band.
Spring Grove High School Jazz Ensemble
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
This talented high school jazz ensemble from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
performs an hour long concert.
Steve Walker
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Jazz trombonist Steve Walker leads a six piece band in a program of New
Orleans jazz.
Wednesday, April 23
University of New Orleans Jazz Studies Day
12:00 – 3:30 p.m.
The venerable UNO Jazz Studies program showcases 2 of its premier student
ensembles, The UNO Guitar Ensemble, and the UNO Jazz Voices as well as
guitarist Aaron Lind’s graduate recital.
Thursday, April 24
Samir Zarif
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
University of New Orleans jazz studies alumni Samir Zarif brings a fresh
new sound to the tenor saxophone with his modern jazz quartet.
Kaya Martinez
2:00 -3:30
Classic jazz vocalist Kaya Martinez brings her silky approach to jazz
standards to the park.
Saturday, April 26
Jim Hession
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Don’t miss this solo performance of early jazz piano classics by the
maestro himself, Jim Hession.
Wednesday, April 30
The Whistling Man
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
International Grand Champion whistler Terry Rappold is the Whistling Man.
Join him as he whistles an amazing set of jazz songs!
Clive Wilson’s New Orleans Serenaders
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
This traditional jazz mainstay features special guests Butch Thompson and
Tommy Sancton.
Saturday, May 3
Craig Brenner
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Pianist Craig Brenner performs a Professor Longhair influenced set of solo
New Orleans piano.
Bill Malchow
2:00 – 3:30
Bill Malchow performs a solo set of New Orleans style piano.
Don’t miss the musical rangers, Bruce Barnes and Matt Hampsey as they
perform a jazz roots program on April 1st, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 22nd, and 29th.
Each musical demonstration will last from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. and will
highlight a significant musical development in the evolution of New Orleans
jazz.
These activities are free and open to the public and will take place in the
park’s Visitor Center at 916 N. Peters Street, unless specified. The
Visitor Center is the site of programs and music performances relating to
the origins, development and progression of the uniquely American musical
art form of jazz. For more information, call 504-589-4841, Tuesday through
Saturday, or visit us online at
www.nps.gov/jazz.
