Issue Articles — Features
Jonathon “Boogie” Long: Missing mentor Luther Kent, but moving forward
Jonathon “Boogie” Long has been making music for 30 of his 36 years on Earth. From a family of singers, he first played guitar at six years old. Growing up in the Baton Rouge area with sacred music, rhythm-and-blues, blues, jazz fusion and jam band music, he evolved into the eclectic performer and songwriter heard on his four, soon to be five albums.
Boo! Ghosts Are Watching: Stoo Odom on His Spooky New Album
In 2013, after nearly two decades in San Francisco, the nimble-fingered bass man and composer Stoo Odom moved back to his birthplace, where he was conceived in what is now the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum and his father co-founded the legendary Maple Leaf Bar.
50 Years and Tomorrow: Festivals Acadiens et Créoles Celebrates 50
If you haven’t heard by now, brace yourself for a shock: Festivals Acadiens et Créoles (FAeC) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Halfway to the centurion mark is astoundingly remarkable for anything, corporations, marriages, let alone a grassroots, non-commercial festival.
Genres Be Damned: Steve Lands and Kosmi(k)rewe makes his Satchmo SummerFest debut
How one might musically perceive trumpeter Steve Lands primarily depends on where you caught him be it at a live show, on a recording or even blowing his horn behind a gospel choir. The versatile musician, who’s making his Satchmo Summerfest debut as a leader, doesn’t play favs when it comes to styles.
Vibes and Wisdom: The Eye of Ben E. Hunter
Ben E. Hunter is back with Cross Roads, his ninth album, continuing down his unique lane with “New Orleans Afro-Caribbean Folk Music.” Though his story is quintessentially New Orleans, it’s also far different from that of most musicians. As expected, it was a no-holds-barred talk with insight and perspective.
The Deezle Chronicles: Part I
Darius “Deezle” Harrison is not only a multi-Grammy-winning producer now shaping the best and brightest musicians at The Throne, but he is also a great storyteller. His history is as New Orleans as it gets, and is a testament to focus, determination, and following what fulfills you. This is the first in a series:
Elite on the Beat: A Conversation with Jamal Batiste
Jamal Batiste has steadily become as in-demand a drummer as it gets. Whether with his own group or enhancing others, he has unlocked the code to playing parts that let you know he means business while highlighting the presence of others. It’s a unique skill, which makes sense coming from a talented young man who is part of Louisiana’s most musical family.
Exiled Cajun Troubadour: Drew Landry will never stop trying to do good for people
To take liberties with Gene Autry’s signature song, Drew Landry is back in the saddle again. Music is once again in the troubadour’s life. After two-and-a-half years in the works, the Acadiana native son is finally releasing Exiles, his first domestic album in 16 years, on July 7.
Legendary Session Musician Carol Kaye loves New Orleans musicians
Bassist and guitarist Carol Kaye’s thousands of rock and roll, pop and soul recording sessions produced classics by Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens, Ray Charles, the Beach Boys, the Righteous Brothers, Petula Clark, Jackie DeShannon, Glen Campbell, Lou Rawls, Herb Alpert, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, the Monkees, Joe Cocker and so many more.
2024 Jazz Fest Redux
OffBeat has published a Jazz Fest recap since the magazine started in 1988. Headlines like “Squeezing Out Sparks at Jazz Fest” or “The Best and Worst of Jazz Fest” were replaced by a recurring headline of “Jazz Fest Redux.” Although we are often copied by other local media, the format in OffBeat remains the original, one and only, Jazz Fest Redux. We hope you enjoy it.
