New Orleans

Saturday, December 29, 2007:

PALMETTO BUG STOMPERS with Washboard Chaz:
The Palmetto Bug Stompers are some of New Orleans' finest purveyors of traditional and New Orleans Jazz. With a wide and varied background of musical influences, they keep the crowds dancing all night. Check them out for a toe-tapping good time. Band members include Jack Fine on cornet and vocals, Sott Hill on trombone, Larry Scalla on guitar, Washboard Chaz on washboard and vocals, Robert Snow on acoustic bass, Bruce Brachman on clarinet and John Rodli on guitar and vocals. Each of the members of the band have played with the finest New Orleans Jazz bands, both in the United States and in Europe.

Sunday, December 30, 2007:

Richard Scott and Friends:
An amazing and versatile piano player, Richard Scott is a very sought-after musician. For this evening, he and his band will focus on traditional 30s—40s band tunes. While playing for dancers, Scott keeps his songs short and at medium tempos.

After playing music all over the world, his heart brought him to New Orleans. He says: "I studied classical piano at first, but I soon became more interested in playing jazz and popular music "by ear", entertaining the family members after Sunday dinner. My grandfather played his old records and encouraged me to figure out the songs. My first interest in traditional jazz came from an old record I came across, "Curtain Going Up" by the Dukes of Dixieland.

My first paid gig was in 1991 at a local art center, and my repertoire grew rapidly when I began working at the Pullman, a local restaurant frequented by lovers of old architecture, old antiques, and old music. I played requests and specialized in ragtime, traditional jazz, gospel, blues, marches, and popular songs from the 20th century. Through high school I played for theater productions, musicals, and in my church. Three Cheers for my band director, Doug Lane, and his fantastic band program!"

Monday, December 31, 2007:

Bob French and his Tuxedo Jazz Band:

Jazz fans were not surprised when Downbeat magazine put drummer Bob French on its September 2006 cover as the face of post-Katrina New Orleans music. A third generation musician, Bob is one of the best-known names in the Crescent City. He is widely recognized not only as the leader of the oldest continually working jazz band, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, (established 1910), but also as the host of “French Cooking,” the WWOZ radio program through which he showcases traditional jazz along with other sounds of New Orleans. You can hear Bob broadcasting live every Tuesday and Friday from 9:00-11:00am NOLA time. Bob’s career spans over five decades and includes work with such key musical figures as Dave Bartholemew, Fats Domino, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Ellis Marsalis and Frankie Ford.