Happy Birthday to Deacon John!

R&B, rock ‘n roll and blues guitarist, singer, bandleader and actor Deacon John Moore was born in New Orleans on June 23, 1941. Happy 79th birthday to a true Big Easy legend!

Photo by Mobilus In Mobili - https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobili/21498536583/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44363359

Happy Birthday, Donald Harrison, Jr!

Saxophonist and composer Donald Harrison, Jr, was born in New Orleans on June 23, 1960. He started in New Orleans secondline culture and studied New Orleans secret tribal culture under his father, Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr.. Harrison Jr. is currently the Chief of Congo Square in Afro-New Orleans Culture. He studied at the Berklee College of Music. As a professional musician he worked with Roy Haynes and Jack McDuff before joining Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with Terence Blanchard and recorded albums in a quintet until 1989. Two years later Harrison released a tribute album to Blakey. This was followed by an album that reached into Harrison's New Orleans heritage with guest appearances by Dr. John and Cyrus Chestnut and chants by the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians. He devoted half the album Nouveau Swing (1997) to mixing the swing beat of modern acoustic jazz with modern dance music and half to mixing the swing beat with Caribbean-influenced music. On the next album his experiments continued by mixing modern jazz's swing beat with hip hop, Latin music, R&B, and smooth jazz.

His albums, 3D Vols. I, II, and III, present him in three different musical genres. On Vol. I he writes, plays, and produces smooth jazz and R&B style. On Vol. II he writes, produces and plays in the classic jazz style. On Vol. III he writes plays and produces hip hop. His group, Donald Harrison Electric Band, has recorded popular radio hits and has charted in the top ten of Billboard magazine. He performs as a producer, singer, and rapper in traditional New Orleans jazz and hip hop genres with his group, The New Sounds of Mardi Gras. The group, which has recorded two albums, was started in 2001 and has made appearances worldwide. Harrison is the Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group, which keeps alive the secret traditions of Congo Square.

In 2016 Harrison recorded his first orchestral work with The Moscow Symphony Orchestra. He followed up the piece for the MSO by writing classical orchestral works for the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, The New York Chamber Orchestra, and The Jalapa Symphony Orchestra in 2017. Harrison has nurtured a number of young musicians including trumpeter Christian Scott (Harrison's nephew), Mark Whitfield, Christian McBride, and The Notorious B.I.G. Harrison was in Spike Lee's HBO documentary When the Levees Broke and has appeared as himself in eleven episodes of the television series Treme. Harrison was chosen Person of the Year by Jazziz magazine in January 2007.

Happy Birthday to a New Orleans original!

Source: Wikipedia

Photo by Derek Bridges

Preservation Hall presents "‘Round Midnight Preserves" on Saturday, June 20th!

Preservation Hall presents ‘Round Midnight Preserves, a benefit event, on Saturday, June 20th, at 8pm NOLA time & 6pm L.A. time. ‘Round Midnight Preserves will feature a series of unforgettable musical collaborations, never-before-seen performances from past Midnight Preserves, and commentary from Preservation Hall Creative Director Ben Jaffe and director Danny Clinch. Special guests include Irma Thomas, Jon Batiste, PJ Morton, Dave Grohl, Elvis Costello, Beck, Jim James and Nathaniel Ratliff.

Preservation Hall is normally open 360 days a year, with members of their Musical Collective performing 3-7 shows per night for upwards of 170,000 people annually, and participating in year-round music education initiatives through the Preservation Hall Foundation during the day. Since mid-March, the Hall has been closed, and our Collective of 60 musicians are without work and without income. Funds raised during the program will benefit the Preservation Hall Foundation and the Collective’s musicians, providing for their well-being during this crisis, and ensuring a solid future for the generations of New Orleans musicians still to come. Spotify has pledged to match donations to help provide support and resources to the members of the Collective. If you are able to give, please consider helping to protect, preserve and perpetuate New Orleans music and culture for years to come.

Join us on Saturday, June 20th at 8pm NOLA time & 6pm L.A. time, and watch this unforgettable event on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/preservationhall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preservationhalljazzband/

Twitch.TV: https://www.twitch.tv/preshallfoundation

Happy Birthday, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson!

Singer songwriter and pianist Al “Carnival Time” Johnson was born in New Orleans on June 20, 1939. Al is best known for his classic song “Carnival Time”, which is one of the most requested and played songs of Carnival Season and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Happy Birthday, Al … celebrate like it’s Carnival Time!

Happy Birthday to Al "Carnival Time" Johnson!

New Orleans native Al “Carnival Time” Johnson turns 80 today, June 20th. Al is best known for his classic song “Carnival Time”, which is one of the most requested and played songs of Carnival Season and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Happy Birthday, Al … celebrate like it’s Carnival Time!

Happy Birthday, Leo Nocentelli!

Singer songwriter and guitarist Leo Nocentelli was born in New Orleans on June 15, 1946. Best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of The Meters, he wrote the original versions of several funk classics such as "Cissy Strut" and "Hey Pocky A-Way". He has recorded with a variety of notable artists such as Dr. John, Robert Palmer and Etta James. In 2018, Nocentelli received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of The Meters. In a life filled with music and achievement, we are fortunate to celebrate this day with Leo. Happy Birthday!

Photo by: Francisco Daum