jazz & heritage ConcerTs
While the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival may be the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s highest-profile event, the Foundation also presents concerts throughout the year as part of the Jazz & Heritage Concert Series. Housed at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center—a fully-renovated, historic Tremé building—the Jazz & Heritage Concert Series highlights local favorites and visiting artists.
Fall 2021 Concert Series Lineup
All concerts will be held in The George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center at 1225 N. Rampart Street.
Doors open at 7pm and the concerts begin promptly at 8pm. Tickets are $5 for each show.
All proceeds from this concert series directly support our efforts at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, including the Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund.
Please note that proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test performed within 72 hours is currently required for entry. Masks are required for indoor guests at all times.
November 6: Shake Em Up Jazz Band
First assembled as a pickup band consisting of working jazz musicians to perform at Girls Rock New Orleans in 2016, Shake Em Up Jazz Band is an all-women group made up of six of New Orleans’s most in-demand female musicians— Haruka Kikuchi, Chloe Feoranzo, Marla Dixon, Molly Reeves, Defne “Dizzy” Incirlioglu, and Julie Schexnayder. Since the beginning this supergroup has performed their traditional jazz music in some of the most famous venues in New Orleans such as Preservation Hall, The New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park at the Old U.S. Mint, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and many more. In their three years of performing together as the Shake Em Up Jazz Band, these six sensational women have released three studio albums dating back to 2017 and have toured extensively throughout the Americas and Europe.
November 13: Shannon Powell Traditional All Star Jazz Band
New Orleans Native and The King of Tremé, Shannon Powell, has been a talented drummer and percussionist since his early years when he learned to play the drums in his childhood church in the Faubourg Tremé at the age of 6. The King of Tremé is known for his commanding technique and style. He has performed all over the world and recorded with many notable jazz musicians, such as Harry Connick Jr. who he recorded two platinum albums with. Today, Shannon Powell is now a bandleader and has recorded his own studio album, “Powell’s Place,” in which he showcases a mix of both traditional and jazz songs and features his vocals. As a leading force on the traditional jazz circuit, an educator, and clinician, Shannon Powell has been featured at many university presented workshops and jazz festivals all over the world.
November 20: Donald Harrison Jr.
Donald Harrison Jr. is a New Orleans born and raised musician, composer, and recognized Big Chief of Congo Square in Afro-New Orleans. Harrison has mastered every era jazz, soul, funk and composed orchestral classical music. Harrison has an impressive resume. He has played with over 200 jazz masters and created 3 styles of jazz including Quantum Jazz and Nouveau Swing, a blend of modern jazz, hip-hop. funk, and soul. Harrison has mentored a diverse portfolio of artist from Notorious B.I.G. to Esperanza Spaulding and many more.
December 4: New Orleans Jazz Vipers
Rhythm, swing, trumpets and trombones, and a variety of voices: The New Orleans Jazz Vipers’ unique sound comes from the absence of the drum kit, while their tenacious rhythm is driven soundly by the guitar and acoustic bass. Originating fifteen years ago in the streets of the New Orleans French Quarter, the band has since become an institution of Hot Swing music on Frenchmen Street, the jazz mecca of New Orleans.In 2001 they became the first jazz band to play at the now world-renowned Spotted Cat Music Club on Frenchmen Street. The deep-rooted lineup of the Jazz Vipers have been members of countless popular New Orleans bands such as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Bonerama, Harry Connick Jr., The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and The Duke Ellington Orchestra, to name just a few. They have been featured on the HBO series Treme performing their Grammy-nominated original tune “I Hope You’re Comin’ Back to New Orleans.
December 11: Gabrielle Cavassa
Gabrielle Cavassa is the New Orleans based vocalist-composer who is the co-winner of the 2021 International Sarah Vaughn Jazz Vocal Competition. She is sought after for her distinctive voice and intimate expression. Gabrielle Cavassa’s music is inspired by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Slum Village and Italian Opera. Gabrielle Cavassa, a genre bending vocalist, released her self-titled debut album “Gabrielle Cavassa” in 2020 and featured artists Braxton Cook and Ashlin Parker.
In the past, the Jazz & Heritage Concert Series has hosted a wide range of jazz luminaries including: Ahmad Jamal, Andy Bey, Germaine Bazzle, Brad Mehldau, Brian Blade, Carl Anderson, Christian Scott, Chucho Valdes, Cyrus Chestnut, Doc Paulin Family, Donald Harrison, Jr., Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ellis Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, Freddy Cole, Gregory Porter, The Heath Brothers, Ida McBeth, Idris Muhammad, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, John Pattitucci, Jon Lucien, Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Malachi Thompson, Maynard Chatters, Michel Camilo, Monte Alexander, The New Legends, Nnenna Freelon, Patti Austin, Phil Woods, Shirley Horn, Slide Hampton, Wallace Roney, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many others.
