NOLA Community Blog
New Orleans is the city that lives in you, no matter where you live. And this website is for all of us who don’t live in New Orleans to stay connected with the Big Easy. Welcome to Church of New Orleans!
Filtering by Category: NOLA musician
Enjoy New Orleans JazzFest ... from home!
John Dunlop
While JazzFest is canceled, you can still enjoy the best of the Fest! WWOZ is presenting JazzFesting in Place, broadcasting some of the best performances in the history of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, straight from the Archive of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.
Listen “live” at https://www.wwoz.org/listen/player/. The broadcast is 9am - 5pm L.A. time, 11am - 7pm NOLA time, Thursday through Sunday (4/23-4/26), and Thursday through Sunday (4/30-5/3)!
Check out the schedule, affectionately known as “The Cubes”, and check back with the WWOZ website each morning for the most up-to-date schedule!
Celebrating the Birthday of Spencer Bohren
John Dunlop
Singer songwriter, guitarist, teacher and visual artist Spencer Bohren was born on April 5, 1950, in Casper, Wyoming. He played guitar, lap steel guitar, banjo, and percussion, and utilized the roots of American traditional music to write songs in blues, country, gospel and folk styles. Bohren grew up in Wyoming and spent time in Colorado, Oregon, Washington in the early part of his career. In 1976 he began raising a family with his wife, Marilyn, in New Orleans. Bohren performed throughout the United States as well as in Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, and Japan. He performed on the A Prairie Home Companion radio program and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He also taught at the Fur Peace Ranch. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he hosted a weekly Monday-night jam session at the Tipitina's music club in New Orleans. Although he most often worked as a soloist, he performed in several bands, including the Funston Brothers, the Eagle-Ridin' Papa, Butterfat, Rufus Krisp, the Earthtones, and Gone Johnson. He collaborated with folk blues performer Judy Roderick, diesel-billy guitarist Bill Kirchen, opera singer Karen Clift, Dr. John, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the vocal duo The Tremors.
In the academic world, Bohren presented a musical overview of American roots music, a lecture-performance entitled Down the Dirt Road Blues, which traces the journey of a single song, "Dirt Road Blues," from Africa to the days of slavery in the American South, through the modern age. He used appropriate vintage instruments to orchestrate the story as the song evolves from a simple vocal melody to a blues song, a dance number, a hillbilly banjo piece, a country hit, and into the age of rock 'n' roll. His CD Carry the Word was named "Best CD of the Year 2000 by a Louisiana Artist" by The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, and he has won the New Orleans Gambit Weekly's "Big Easy Award for Best Folk Artist" several times. Also a visual artist, Bohren created artworks that he calls "Reliquaries" and shares his philosophy and techniques with interested students of all ages. Bohren released fourteen albums since 1984., and appeared in television drama HBO's "Treme" in 2012. Sadly, Bohren died on June 8, 2019, but his musical legacy is enduring. Today, on his birthday, we remember that legacy and celebrate his life.
WWOZ's OnlineWire - New Orleans virtual gig calendar
John Dunlop
Virtual gig listings from New Orleans musicians, so you can support and enjoy live, local music. Without leaving home. Click here to enjoy & don’t forget to tip the musicians!
Offbeat Magazine's Weekly Stream - New Orleans Musicians & Venues Offering Online & Live Streams
John Dunlop
Beloved New Orleans musician and educator Ellis Marsalis has passed away at 85.
John Dunlop
Beloved pianist, composer and music educator Ellis Marsalis passed away today at age 85. Born in New Orleans on November 14, 1934, Marsalis was the patriarch of a musical family, with internationally famous sons, saxophonist Branford and trumpeter Wynton, as well as accomplished jazz musicians, trombonist Delfeayo and drummer Jason. Marsalis focused on teaching, influencing the careers of many musicians. A Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee, he and his sons are group recipients of the 2011 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award. Marsalis was an immeasurable talent whose loss will be felt by all in New Orleans and by music lovers around the world. Rest in peace, Ellis.
Photo by: Lee Paxton - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Leepaxton