At American Routes, we’re getting ready for a New Year coming, with live homegrown music: jazz, soul, blues, Cajun and funk recorded in the streets at the annual French Quarter Festival. We’ve got Rebirth Brass Band, Little Freddie King, Leroy Jones, John Cleary, Charmaine Neville, the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, and pianist Ellis Marsalis, patriarch of the Marsalis family.
Nick Spitzer: Over the years Ellis Marsalis has played everything from Be-Bop to R&B, and is a consummate modernist. Ellis was the founding director of Jazz Studies at the University of New Orleans. On stage Mr. Marsalis is joined by his Quintet, here with a tune from his late friend, Alvin Batist: ”Mozartin’.”
(Ellis Marsalis Quintet plays)
NS: The Ellis Marsalis Quintet on stage at the New Orleans French Quarter Festival. Another native of our city is Bruce Daigrepont, a Cajun accordionist who plays weekly Fais-do-do dances at local clubs. His roots are with his grandparents in Avoyelles Parish. His parents spoke French at home in New Orleans, keeping their country traditions alive in the big city. Here’s Bruce Daigrepont on stage.
(Bruce Daigrepont plays)
NS: Accordionist Bruce Daigrepont and band with some music for a happy New Years.
To hear the full program, tune in Saturdays at 5 and Sundays at 6 on WWNO, or listen at americanroutes.org.