Jazz Market Grand Opening

Exciting News for Jazz Enthusiasts -- 

Tonight marked the grand opening of Jazz Market at 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. corner Martin Luther King boulevard. It is NOJO's (New Orleans Jazz Orchestra) first building project.   NOJO is founded in 2002 by trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Irvin Mayfield.   NOJO is the first and only performing arts institution committed solely to the development of an industry for Jazz in the city that created the music.  The New Orleans Jazz Market will feature music education experiences for all ages, a New Orleans Jazz Archive, tributes to current and past Jazz Masters, and perfomances by Irvin Mayfield, NOJO and other renowned musicians.  The space also includes a coffee shop, bar and digital learning center.

Source:https://www.worknola.com/new-orleans-jazz-orchestra/marketing-associate-new-orleans-jazz-market-0

When we'd just moved to St. Charles Avenue, I remember some friends advising us to go anywhere northeast towards the business center and the French Quarter or southeast towards the Garden District, but never southwest where it is risky and dangerous especially at night time.  News about shootings  add to these apprehensions.  

Recently though, it is heartwarming that this seemingly neglected neighborhood in the southwest is now a venue for  music and art activities, and new businesses.  We roamed around and found new art galleries, a food museum, new restaurants and new grocery stores in the vicinity.  It is also reassuring what Councilwoman Ms. Latoya Cantrell said, “One thing we will see on the boulevard is a nightlife, and we have to be prepared for it, that’s my job.”

Okay, let's go back to the Jazz Market.  The place was full of  guests and musicians, politicians and people like us who are happy for this development.

Here's part of Irvin Mayfield's speech:

Performance of Ms. Dee Dee Bridgewater and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra:

Below are pictures of the  distinguished guests.

Here are the some of the details of the events as posted by nojocms:

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING IRVIN MAYFIELD AND THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA (NOJO) CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF

THE PEOPLES HEALTH NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MARKET

Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Kicks Off Weekend of Activities, Month of Events

Posted by: nojocms

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING IRVIN MAYFIELD AND THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA (NOJO) CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF

THE PEOPLES HEALTH NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MARKET

Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Kicks Off Weekend of Activities, Month of Events

NEW ORLEANS (March 26, 2015) – The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) celebrated the grand opening of the Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market (PHNOJM) with a weekend of festivities, beginning Thursday, April 2^nd with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on its new facility, which provides music education and community events, live performances by Irvin Mayfield, NOJO and other renowned musicians, and a developing New Orleans Jazz Archive.

WHAT: Grand Opening of the Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market

Celebration kicks off a weekend of festivities and month of events

WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2015 ( 7p.m.-10 p.m.)

7 p.m.: Grand Opening celebration hosted by Councilmember LaToya Cantrell and NOJO Board Chairman Ron Forman; Event will feature musical performances by NOJO’s Artistic Director Irvin Mayfield with Honorary NOJO Board Chair and legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater; Speakers will include Nick Karl of Peoples Health, Margaret Anadu of Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group, Ommeed Sathe of Prudential Financial Inc., Mikki Shepard of the Apollo Theater, and leaders from the PHNOJM’s other key partnerships.

10 p.m.:  After Party at Bolden Bar in the PHNOJM featuring Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters.

WHERE: Grand opening festivities begin (7 p.m.); Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony (8 p.m.) at The Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market (1436 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans)

Event After-Party (10 p.m.):  Bolden Bar in the PHNOJM

The People Health New Orleans Jazz Market (PHNOJM) is located at the intersection of Oretha Castle Haley and Martin Luther King Boulevards in Central City, in the former Gators Department Store building, which once housed the historic Dryades Market.

About the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO)

NOJO creates Jazz to enhance life, transform place, and elevate spirit through the tenets of truth, love and beauty.  Founded in 2002 by trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Irvin Mayfield, NOJO is the first and only performing arts institution committed solely to the development of an industry for Jazz in the city that created the music.  For more information, please visit www.thenojo.com.

Source:http://thenojo.com/content/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=52&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=44

Please read also:

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/home/8476555-172/jazz-market-on-to-offer

With all these developments, we are definitely glad we decided to move here in New Orleans!  Plus ... this gives me double happiness:  A new Filipino kamayan style restaurant will also open in the near future.

Ellis Marsalis Jr., Special Guest at Jazz at the Sandbar

Finally, Jazz at the Sandbar at the UNO (University of New Orleans) is back!
The place was fully packed with professors, students and outside guests.
What better way to start by having the iconic Ellis Marsalis, Jr. as the first guest.  Ellis Marsalis is well known as a modern jazz pianist,  not only in New Orleans but internationally too.  As you may know, Ellis Marsalis Center for Music is named after him.  Mr. Marsalis is committed to preserve the New Orleans culture, especially jazz and to give opportunity to young jazz musicians to realize their dreams.  He is also a father to to six sons who are all musically gifted.

"It is a bit ironic that Ellis Marsalis had to wait for sons Wynton and Branfordto get famous before he was able to record on a regular basis, but Ellis finally received his long-overdue recognition. The father of six sons (includingWynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason), Ellis Marsalis' main importance to jazz may very well be as a jazz educator; his former pupils (in addition to his sons) include Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Harry Connick, Jr.,Nicholas Payton, and Kent and Marlon Jordan, among others. He started out as a tenor saxophonist, switching to piano while in high school". Marsalis was one of the few New Orleans musicians of the era who did not specialize in Dixieland or rhythm & blues. He played with fellow modernists (including Ed Blackwell) in the late '50s with AFO, recorded with Cannonball and Nat Adderley in the 1960s, played with Al Hirt (1967-1970), and was busy as a teacher. Marsalis freelanced in New Orleans during the 1970s and taught at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He recorded with Wynton andBranford on Father and Sons in 1982, an album that they shared with Chico and Von Freeman. After that, Marsalisrecorded for ELM, Spindletop (a duet session with Eddie Harris), Rounder, Blue Note, and Columbia, issuing Twelve's It on the latter in 1998. Duke in Blue followed a year later. Since that time, Marsalis has kept busy releasing Afternoon Session, An Open Letter to Thelonious, and Ruminations".
Source:http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ellis-marsalis-mn0000795979/biography

Ellis Marsalis played modern jazz, but his sentimentality and old world charm permeated his music.  His sound is unhurried, rich and sweet. 

Watch this:

Watch this too, with Jordan Baker on keyboard: 

                            
                            

Aside from the regular performers who are all superb and professional-sounding -- Albert Allenback-tenor sax, Jeronne Ansari-alto sax, Jordan Baker-piano, Tanarat Chaichana-bass, Glenn Hall-trumpet, and Peter Varnado-drums, Miss Amber Matthews performed with them.  Isn't she as cute as a button! She has nice melodious voice and her young innocent looks makes her an eye candy.   I guess as she matures she will be more sassy and adventurous in her renditions.   
                                                     

Amber Matthews

                                                     
We are so looking forward for next week's treat at the Jazz at the Sandbar featuring trumpeter and UNO alumnus, Master of Music 2013,  Ashlin Parker.  

UNO Jazz

Have you been to the UNO  Jazz at the Sandbar?  UNO, as in University of New Orleans, my dears.  That's one of our new favorite places for jazz.  We go regularly at the Spotted Cat, Maison, Fritzel's, Palm Court, Preservation Hall, etc.,  but there's nothing like jazz at the UNO Lakefront Campus.  For one, we are always assured of good seats; two, there is always a good table waiting for us (one of the tables in front, just below the stage. Not that they reserved it for us, but I guess students have the habit of avoiding the front tables and seats);  three,  nobody gets out of hand being drunk; four, they have reasonably-priced good food and drinks, (yes, even beer and wine!), and last but not the least, the jazz is incredibly great, albeit mostly it's modern jazz and we have preference for the traditional jazz.  Jazz at the Sandbar happens every Wednesday.  They also invite famous musicians for their events, mostly music graduates of the university.  Do you know that the likes of Mark Braud, Gregory Agid, Danielle Wilson, Jamison Ross,  and I am sure many other famous musicians who I have not known yet, come from UNO?  

The last time we went, they had  singer Ms. Kate McGarry and guitarist Keith Ganz. Ms. Kate McGarry sure is a professional singer.  Her stage presence is strong, she mesmerized the audience. I particularly admire her scat singing, she is awesome!   Mr. Keith Ganz is passionate and produced emotionally-charged sounds.  Here they are in their rendition of Charade:

      
We were also treated to two groups of artists, one under the direction of Hank McKie and the other, under the direction of Steve Masakowski.  Both of these groups wowed the audience with their guitar sounds. The drummers were awesome, especially Matt Keegan.  His timing is impeccable,  he's a genius with drums. 
 
Here's their rendition of Besame Mucho:

                                           
It was fun watching these young musicians jam with each other,  oftentimes smiling at each other, in that way approving and complimenting each other's performance. 

We are grateful that UNO Jazz Studies Program opens its doors not only to all UNO students but also to  jazz enthusiasts like us.  We certainly love our Wednesday nights spent with your prodiguous music students!