”Make a Joyful Noise!” …a paean to the gospel music that permeates New Orleans’ neighborhoods during the holiday season, and all during the year, for that matter. New Orleans loves its gospel traditions, and Eric Bookhardt’s feature on “Gospel Revelations” in this month’s issue gives the lowdown on where one can hear the best in gospel.

Many of the city’s other music clubs feature gospel music this month, most notably Tipitina’s, which hosts its annual Christmas Gospel Show on Saturday, December 23 at 10 p.m. Local award-winning gospel singer (and well-known Guard of the Back Door at Tip’s) Joe “Cool” Davis performs with Sammy Berfect and the Dimensions of Faith, The First Revolution, and The New Zion Trio Plus One. Joe also performs on December 10 at The St. Mark’s Community Center at 5 p.m.

The New Orleans Blues & Gospel club opens this month at 227 Bourbon Street, with gospel music every Thursday through Monday night at 8 p.m. Local favorites Irma Thomas and Marva Wright will be regulars at the club after the gospel performances. Along with local television channel WVUE, the club will also co-sponsor “Rejoice on the River” on the Steamboat Natchez and the Toulouse Street Wharf on December 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Over 500 local gospel singers will sing for the event, a benefit for the homeless that’s a part of the Creole Christmas celebrations which continue throughout the month of December.

We’ve touched on but a few of the events of A Creole Christmas on page 19 in this issue of OffBeat. But you can call 522-5730 for a full calendar of events.

New Orleans is gearing up its music business scene too in December. The New Orleans Music & Entertainment Association will present its third annual ”Mayor’s Forum on Music & Economic Development” December 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency (call NOM&E at 836-4588 for more info).

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation announced that its new Heritage School of Jazz will open early next year. The school will provide free music lessons to selected fifth and sixth graders from New Orleans’ public and private schools (presumably as a preparation for NOCCA, the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts).

WWOZ-FM (90.7), the best place to hear New Orleans’ music, as well as the best in blues, jazz, gospel and rhythm and blues, has undergone tough times lately. Hopefully those will soon end, with the station’s fundraising efforts and benefits planned for December 6 (at the Maple Leaf), 15 (Muddy Waters), 17-18 (The Columns Hotel) and 27 (Tipitina’s). You can bet that the music will be great…and all for a very worthy cause.

For those gossip-lovers…it seems as though New Orleans is attracting musical stars aplenty these days. Linda Ronstadt’s been seen in town of late quite a bit, presumably because of her new-found New Orleans recording connection with Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers. And rumor still has it that Bob Dylan has bought an uptown home as a permanent base in the Big Easy.

Jaxfest opens this month atop the Jackson Brewery with three levels of entertainment. Jaxfest is a multi-venue entertainment complex that features a sports bar, dance club, sing-along piano bar and a tropical island theme bar. We can’t think of a better place to be on New Year’s Eve. And after those late nights on the town…see our feature on late night spots to get a bite to eat in the Big Easy.

The Cat’s Meow also opens this month at 70 Bourbon, along with the grand opening of The New Orleans Music Hall at S. Peters and N. Diamond Street in the Warehouse District. The Music Hall’s owner, Robert O’Connell is putting together a great line-up of acts for 1990 along with a special act for Mardi Gras.

City Lights, the trendy nightery in the Warehouse District, is capitalizing on the new yuppie yen for ballroom dancing and plans a night with the WBYU Orchestra on December 10. Sounds of Madonna giving way to Glenn Miller…should be an interesting evening. We understand that they also give money away there, ladies, on Wednesday nights. Personally, we ladies love those incentives…I’ll take a free drink, but free money catches my attention quite a bit more!

Speaking of the Warehouse District (which seems to be becoming the new entertainment district in town), Michaul’s opens its doors on December 29 at 701 Magazine Street (corner Girod). Michele Jacob, Michaul’s proprietress, is closing her West Bank location for a site in the heart of the District. Michaul’s is well known in the city for its Cajun music and cuisine (free dance lessons always available) and we’re glad to see Michele coming on strong. Michaul’s will be open on weekdays for lunch too, as well as for dinner (with Cajun music, of course) every night from 5 p.m.

The New Orleans Symphony is once again presenting a varied program, this time with a mostly holiday theme: “Beethoven and Blue Jeans” on December 2; Handel’s “Messiah” on December 8 and 10; the concert version of “Camelot” on December 21-23; and the “Bach Christmas Oratorio” on December 21-23. Call the New Orleans Symphony at 525-0500 for ticket information.

Both the Delta Festival Ballet and the New Orleans City Ballet present their versions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. See OffBeat‘s listings for ticket information and times of performances.

Earlier in the month, the local gallery scene heats up on December 2, with new showings around town and gallery receptions beginning from about 6 til about 10 p.m. Check OffBeat‘s feature article and Gallery Guide for details on shows and reception times.

For local rock ‘n’ roll buffs, Jimmy’s on Oak Street presents a reunion of one of New Orleans’ best bands, The Cold, on December 22 and 23. Cold member Vance DeGeneres talks about the band in this month’s OffBeat.

We also feature Katrinna Huggs’ look at zydeco, Louisiana’s swingingest music, as well as the second of three parts of Kalamu ya Salaam’s article on the city’s brass bands. Look for us at Superbowl…Mardi Gras…and Jazz Fest. Our partying’s just beginning for the New Year. Santé and Happy Holidays from all of us at OffBeat!