Traditional Jazz

Traditional Jazz is the music most associated with New Orleans. The term "secondline" was born of this style of music. The usual instrumentation is a combination of trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, bass, trombone, and piano. Although "Dixieland" is often used as a general label for this genre, there is a difference between New Orleans traditional jazz and Dixieland music. Dixieland usually includes banjos along with clarinet and bass. These are some of the Artists you should think of when you think of Traditional Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Joe King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Prima, and Pete Fountain.

Blues

The Blues is a feeling. It's a state of mind. Blues music can be happy or sad, and always creates an emotion from deep down inside. Whether solo guitar or a big band with horns, blues music packs a punch. These are some of the Artists you should think of when you think of the Blues: Bessie Smith, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Koko Taylor, and Bobby Blue Bland.

Contemporary Jazz

Contemporary is a sub-genre of jazz which is influenced stylistically by R&B, funk and pop. Contemporary is a term used to refer to a widely accepted style of jazz music playing that can be thought of as roughly encompassing the period between bebop and the 1960s styles.

Uniquely New Orleans

The New Orleans sound is a mixture of New Orleans R&B, Soul, Jazz, Funk, and Gospel. New Orleans music evokes a temptation to dance and sing. Uniquely New Orleans bands most commonly are led by funky horn players, and often incorporate some Gospel, R&B, and Jazz, all within the same performance. The audience is encouraged to actively participate in the musical festivities by dancing and joining along in song. Some Uniquely New Orleans tunes that should come to mind are: Blueberry Hill, When the Saints Go Marching In, and Ooh Poo Pa Do.

Gospel

Gospel music is born of the Christian experience. It includes slow moving spirituals as well as high-energy, hand clapping, foot stomping songs, chants, and shouts. Gospel groups come in many packages: large choirs, small groups (usually quartets with a backup band), duos, and soloists. Some of these groups emulate: Mahalia Jackson, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and New Orleans’ own famous Zion Harmonizers, to name a few.

Brass Band

"Let’s have a Parade!" The New Orleans Brass Band is a mobile band, consisting of horns like the trumpet, trombone, sousaphone, and sax along with a drum line of snare and bass. These bands can parade down the streets and throughout a room, or play stationary as requested. In the past, brass bands were primarily used for New Orleans Jazz Funerals – they would play slow dirges as the mourners made their procession to the burial site, but on the way back, they would pick up the tempo as everyone would dance and sing, celebrating the life they were honoring with a joyful secondline. In present day, brass bands are more commonly found playing for festivals, conventions, private parties, weddings, political gatherings, and all sorts of festive occasions. They incorporate a variety of music into their brass arrangements (traditional New Orleans jazz, modern jazz, and R&B) with songs like Lil’ Liza Jane, Feet Can’t Fail me Now, and Do Whatcha Wanna. If you want to kick off your event with a bang, use a New Orleans brass band! Some of the most popular brass bands are: Dirty Dozen, Rebirth, and New Birth Brass Bands.

Cajun & Zydeco

These two genres have similar roots, but each has its own unique qualities. Derived from the French Acadienne traditions, Cajun and Zydeco were born in the bayous of Southern Louisiana. Cajun music is associated with bluegrass and folk with an emphasis on fiddle playing and many songs are sung in Cajun French. Dancers love to "2 step" to Cajun music. This music is perfect for celebrations like crawfish boils and fish fries. Zydeco music is also rooted back to the French Acadiana heritage abundant in the bayous of Southern Louisiana. Zydeco is heavily influenced by R&B and the main instruments are usually the accordian (affectionately knows as"the big squeeze box") and the washboard, with a lot of rhythm and bass to "get your mojo workin'!" Artists most associated with Cajun music include Louisiana locals, Steve Riley, BeauSoleil, Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, and Bruce Daigrepont. For Zydeco Music, the best known groups are Rockin’ Dopsie, Buckwheat Zydeco, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, CJ Chenier, and Geno Delafose.

R&B

Rhythm & Blues is motion music – you just can't stand still when you hear it! Most associated with nightclubs and house parties, this genre grew out of the blues. In the 50's, performers like Louis Jordan began to add modern dance beats to their music, and the revolution began, breaking down color barriers so everyone could dance to Rock n Roll and Rhythm & Blues together. R&B has become the pop music of the 50's, ‘60's and beyond to today. Artists commonly associated with R&B are: Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Aretha Frankliln, The Temptations, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Babyface.

Party Music

Let the party begin! Cover bands and DJs play Top 40, R&B, hip-hop, Motown, and Rock n Roll Hits from today and yesterday. If you want to dance all night, this is what you're looking for. Other party music includes Klezmer bands, which add flavors to any event, especially weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.