There are many “cultural products” districts in New Orleans, and several unofficial music districts throughout the city, the most famous ones are Frenchmen Street and Bourbon Street. St. Claude is developing a music scene; Freret has one and so does Oak Street.

It’s time that both South and North Rampart Street get back into the music fray.

South Rampart is ripe for music clubs. It’s the scene of the venue where Louis Armstrong first played; it’s right smack-dab in the center of the new apartment complexes that are springing up downtown (those residents need some real music, and I’m not just talking about dance clubs). The Eagle Saloon is being renovated and should start presenting shows, hopefully within the next few months. But there should be more. The Little Gem is the linchpin of the entire street. Let’s make it a jazz music corridor. It’s time.

Ditto North Rampart.

I’ve harped on this location for years. At one time the Funky Butt and Donna’s were thriving there. Post-Katrina—because there was nothing in those locations for over a year—the option for presenting music lapsed. This needs to be reversed.

Last night there was a meeting regarding what needs to be done with the buildings in Armstrong Park that were supposedly to be renovated and operated with the National Park Service (the NPS could never properly fund the restoration of the buildings and they are falling into deep disrepair once again). It seems that the city is now looking for a public-private partnership to restore these buildings in Armstrong Park. Ideally, they should be put into commerce as historical buildings with a jazz orientation; they should have jazz playing there every single day. Music should be a part of Armstrong Park on a continuing basis. It should be a place where people can learn about Louis Armstrong and his importance to jazz and the city of New Orleans. But that’s going to take money. Where will it come from?

Now that’s Armstrong Park.

What about North Rampart Street?

With the new streetcar route about to open, this is prime for development for music venues.

Rampart Street from Poydras Street to Esplanade Avenue should be designated  a “jazz district.” The requirements that “jazz” be played there are going to be difficult to legislate, however. Unless strict requirements can be formulated and enforced, we could end up with another music district where cover bands play “Proud Mary.” That should not be allowed to happen. Jazz is what this city is known for; Rampart Street and Armstrong Park present this city with unprecedented opportunities to live up to New Orleans moniker as the “birthplace of jazz.”