One of the great joys of going to New Orelans is all the wonderful live music in a wide variety of music styles, most of which originated here or in the country side to the southwest of the city. Below is the same sampling we were able to take in this time and here are my explorations in January 2010, the last time I was there.
Our first night was planned around going to the Mid-City Lanes Rock & Bowl at 3000 S. Carrollton Avenue for Zydeco night. It has become a tradition for us. This time we saw Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers. They have moved to a new larger location after Katrina. They were able to open for a while at their orginal site as they were on the second floor above the damage to the shopping strip they were connected to but the rest of the place was a tear down so I am not surprised they had to move. It was our first time at the new place. They preserved some of the great mural from the original location. The music was great and, as always, they never seem to take a break from the high energy music.
On several afternoons we went to the Gazebo in the French Market where they have live music in an outdoor cafe. It is relaxed venue. there is another outdoor music cafe close by but I find the Gazebo more intimate. We saw Carman Perez and her group once and Jimmy Bean and his group several times. I have several of Jimmy's CDs from prior trips. He does some nice blues.
Before dinner on Friday, we listened to a bit of jazz by the Alex Bachari Trio at the Columns Hotel, a place my grandmother ran in the 1950s and a great place in the Garden District. It is also a great place to have drinks on the porch and I have stayed here a few times. The two interior shots were taken on an earlier trip at a quieter time. It was packed when we were there. It is located at 3811 Saint Charles Avenue (504) 899-9308
After dinner on Friday there was a trip to Tipitina’s for Big Sam’s Funky Nation. He put on a high energy show with a lot of audience engagement. Tipitina’s is located at 501 Naploeon where it meets the levee. In past trips I have often gone to the Cajun Fais Do Do featuring Bruce Daigrepont that happens every Sunday late afternoon into the evening at Tipitina’s (501 Napoleon Avenue). There is a regular group of dancers and I saw many of the same people who were there in 2007 when I last went. The crowd for Big Sam was quite different and seemed to be mostly college students.
On Sunday night we night we went to Frenchman Street just outside the Quarter where there are many good clubs. We did window shopping to find good sounds and started at the Spotted Cat (623 Frenchman Street 504-943-3887) to hear Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses do traditional New Orleans swing jazz to a packed audience. We can also see the club on a quiet Monday morning the next day.
On our way back from Frenchmen Street we got drawn into some nice blues by Andy J Forest at the Balcony Music Club (1331 Decatur Street – 504 -599-7770).
It is important to not forget the great street music often available in the French Quarter. Here is a group in Jackson Square and several on Royal Street on a Sunday afternoon. The two women playing fiddle and guitar are Dorise and Tanya and I brought two of their CDs that make pleasant music to work by and I am listening to them now.
After dinner on Monday we went to Bacchanal which is a wine retail shop, a wine bar, a live music venue, a deli, and bistro with guest chefs. It opens at 11 am and usually closes around midnight, seven days a week. They feature live music in the courtyard seven nights a week-weather permitting. We have a chef cooking on the grill six nights a week. Chef Joaquin Rodas is now their official Chef at Bacchanal five nights a week, Tuesday through Saturday. We saw the Jon Freilich Band and had some nice wine. Next time we will eat also. The last picture of the front door is from their web site.
So much music and so little time. There was much we missed.
Great pictures capture
Posted by: Andy | July 11, 2011 at 03:53 AM
Wow,you certainly packed in music, food, and drink in your days in NOLA. The street scenes in the French Quarter are some of the most underrated, under the radar sources of talent and entertainment - and all free... I always carry cash in my pocket to deposit in the tip jars of the singers and musicians. Thanks for documenting this so thoroughly!
Posted by: Paul Tamburello | July 22, 2011 at 01:18 PM