meanceprimeaux

New Orleans, Louisiana

As the birthplace of jazz, as well as the home of Cash Money Records, New Orleans is firmly on the map of Great Music Cities. This great place not only boasts one of the liveliest nightlife scenes in all of America, but also has the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, as well as being known world wide for it’s annual carnival season “Mardi Gras”.

History

To fully understand the uniqueness of New Orleans, one must first get, at least, a quick overview of the city’s history. Founded in 1718 by the French, ceded to Spain in 1763, returned to France in 1803, and shortly thereafter, sold to The United States in the Louisiana Purchase. These varied influences helped shape the city, as well as the many Caribbean people who either fled their home country or escaped from the slave trade. In fact by the 1800s about half of the city was made up of African Americans free and slave both (Noteworthy is the fact that New Orleans, prior to the Civil War, had the largest population of free people of color in the entire US). This city boasted fine ethnic cuisine, and a love for music and dancing even back then. So much so that the first US appointed Governor reportedly stated that New Orleanians were ungovernable, due to their preoccupation with dancing. Other ethnic influences began to arrive during the 1800s. Germans, Italians, and Irish all came to the city, many English speaking Europeans and free Africans and the Native American Indians, that were already present in outer lying areas. Nowhere else, in all of the South, was there such a diverse mix of cultures. All of this made New Orleans very different, and complex, and helped bring in the very different and complex music we call Jazz.

New Orleans jazz is a sub genre unto itself, defined by The Louisiana State Museum this way: "New Orleans jazz is a performance art based on the musical elements of syncopation, improvisation, blues scale, call-and-response, rhythm, tone color, harmony and interpretation." Most historians agree that Jazz begins somewhere around 1895, in this beautiful, culturally diverse city. Widespread use of improvisation was the common thread in this new genre. Whereas typically a composer would write a musical score, and the musicians would try to play it verbatim, in this new music style, the score served as only a reference point. So each musician knew the “general idea” of the piece, but could improvise however he felt sounded right to him. In the beginning these musicians would take some basic blues tune, and improvise around it until, by the time they were done with it, they had a completely new song, that many would not associate with the original piece at all. While Jazz was indeed born in New Orleans, it isn’t the only form of music having deep roots in the city.

Mississippi Delta Blues began just up the river from New Orleans, and certainly had some reciprocal influence upon early stages of jazz. New Orleans blues is an offshoot of the Delta blues, and is mostly associated with piano. It developed into more of a boogie woogie, up tempo type of music, than the traditional “woe is me” blues. Over the years this amalgamation of blues and jazz heavily influenced the New Orleans artists that would put their own stamp on a new music we know today as R&B.

By the time the 1950s rolled around, a “rolling” style of piano playing was evident in many New Orleans R&B pieces. This style of R&B really helped to push the envelope, and gain popularity that reached far and wide. In fact no other black artist sold more records in the 1950s than one Fats Domino. In all genres, it seems that when a New Orleans musician gets a hold of it, it takes on new characteristics. We can see that even in more modern art forms, as New Orleans’ hip-hop, while perhaps overshadowed, exerts influence throughout the genre.

New Orleans’ hip-hop generally has a lot of horns. The people are proud of their heritage and their city’s heritage. Again, here in the hip-hop scene, New Orleans boasts yet another sub-genre “Bounce”. Bounce music is characterized by the “old school” call and response shout outs (mc: “Everybody say ‘oh yeah!’”.. crowd: “oh yeah!”). The most well known “bounce” artist is probably Mystikal. You can certainly hear the bounce influence on the Crunk style of rap emanating out of Atlanta, GA. While most of the cities rappers have remained only local phenoms, there are a few that have gained worldwide acclaim. Master P reportedly bought the projects he grew up in, and also started his own record company (No Limit Records), as did a couple of brothers from Harlem, (Cash Money Records). These two New Orleans based record companies are home to many well-known acts.

All of these different genres cast their shadow over New Orleans, as well as Zydeco, and Cajun music which abound to the West and to the South of the City. It truly is like visiting another country, and certainly belongs on any list of Great Music Cities.

Tour of the Local Music Scene

Surprisingly, even after the devastation of hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has a very happening music scene. The French Quarter (or Vieux Carre’) hosts many live bands performing nightly, as well as many other venues outside of the Quarter.


Tipitina’s Uptown - is one of New Orleans’ greatest music venues. The biggest complaint I hear is that quite often it is packed in like sardines. Well welcome to New Orleans nightlife. This place is dedicated to Professor Longhair, and named after his famous song. Located @ 501 Napolean, at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Napolean. Not to be confused with the Tipitina’s in the Quarter, which is only open for private functions.



(image courtesy of Rick Pineda)


F&M Patio Bar – This is a great uptown club. Many musicians hang here, and quite a big college hang out as well. The patio outside is great, especially on hot nights (which are fairly common in New Orleans). Located @ 4841 Tchoupitoulas.



(image courtesy of Rick Pineda)



Tropical Isle/Funky Pirate – Tropical Isle has two locations in the Quarter, one on Bourbon Street @ the corner of Orleans & Bourbon, and one @ 738 Toulouse.
The one on Bourbon offers live entertainment, that is sort of a Jimmy Buffett type feel.
The Funky Pirate is a sister club, and features Big Al and the Blues Masters performing regularly.


House of Blues – World famous blues club. House of Blues, New Orleans is a wonderful, but generally pricey place. Featuring headliners on a regular basis. Ambience is great as well, and just to view all the art on the outside of the building is worth the time. Located @ 225 Decatur.





Bourbon Street Blues Company – This club features great live blues and jazz shows, also featuring one of the best drink specials in all of the Quarter (3 for 1 drinks). Always a great time and a good show. Located @ 441 Bourbon.




The Famous Door – One of the oldest hotspots in the Quarter (since 1934), this club offers live shows, usually featuring R&B and Dixieland Jazz. This place is sister club to the Bourbon St Blues Co. (above) and offers 2 for 1 drinks. Located @ 339 Bourbon.


Krazy Korner – This club is located in the heart of the Quarter. On the corner of St. Peters and Bourbon, if you can fight your way through the crowd to get in, it is worth it. Live music on a regular basis.




New Orleans has over 100 local music spots just outside the Quarter alone. In the Quarter itself, 100+ more. You will hear (and sometimes even see) live music as you walk around block after block of the French Quarter. Also noteworthy are the countless street performers found there. From 3 piece bands featuring electric violin and flute, to Pirate’s Alley (right beside Jackson Square and across from the famous beignets place Café Du Monde) where a brass band is usually playing with anywhere from 3 to 30 members blowing there horn, to the common guitar slinger, you will be amazed at the amt. of music in the air everywhere you go.




Musicians from New Orleans:
While I’d like to be all inclusive, New Orleans is home to literally a minimum of 250-350 artists. Here is a small sample.

Jazz
Louis Armstrong
Pete Fountain
Sidney Bechet
Al Hirt
Louis Prima
Jelly Roll Morton
The Marsalis family (Ellis, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, & Jason)

Harry Connick Jr. - Vocal

Galactic – Jazz/ Funk

Blues
Johnny Adams
Champion Jack Dupree
Snooks Eaglin

Earl King – Blues/R&B

R&B
Lee Dorsey
Shirley & Lee
Aaron Neville
Neville Brothers
The Meters
Jean Knight (“Mr. Big Stuff”)

Antoine (Fats) Domino – R&B/Rock & Roll

Rock
Dr. John
Randy Newman

The Dixie Cups – Early Rock

World Leader Pretend – Indie Rock

Metal
Pepper Keenan (Corosion of Conformity)

Opprobrium – Death Metal

Rap
Mystical
Juvenile
Big Tymer$
Master P
C Murder

 

Aqualung

Wow, that is an awesome review!! I never thought to do reviews on cities, but that's seriously great! Can't say that I've heard any of those bands who came from New Orleans, though. I like that you listed the clubs, and I loved the history part. Great job!

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meanceprimeaux

you are just young. or maybe i am just old.

so you have some new bands to check out.... that's a good thing.

Galactic is great jazzy funky stuff. I really like them alot.

with your musical taste i would suggest the indie rockers World Leader Pretend.

they are still a fairly unknown, but decent band

Aqualung

Or maybe I'm just not a huge jazz fan. Probably a combination of all that.

Hmmm... An informed recommend. I will have to check that one out!! If they're not too unknown for me to find stuff...

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Boston®

The House of Blues in New Orleans is amazing. If you've been to any other HoB and think you know what to expect, you're wrong. Its completly different. I saw a group who I've never heard of, always better that way, and had an amazing time.

I can't believe you named World Leader Pretend, I thought I was the only one who had ever heard of them. I'm not a big fan, but great to hear they're gaining popularity. And Louis Armstrong is of course the legend from New Orleans. What a man.

Strings

Been to New Oreans many times for different events and Jazz Fest cannot be beat! Unfortunately the city's gone downhill rapidly over the past decade, but it looks like Katrina may be the catalyst to turn things around down there.

My favorites from the last time I was down there were the Dukes of Dixieland (second best pianist I've ever heard!) and Bonerama... they're a 5 trombone, tuba, bass, drums, guitar group doing wild fusion, funk, synthey stuff (yes... a trombone synth... it's insanely cool ) and their covers of Zep and Hendrix are even better than the originals!

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MusicMan

Excellent Thread! Wow, everything you need to know about New Orleans music and history is right here! Splendid job Meance, thanks

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Rules! A definite must-read

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