August 2020

Buy Now

Cover Story

Getting back with people to play with, Wendell Brunious grooves to Seven Days of Satch
Wendell Brunious hasn’t played a live gig since March 13. A trumpeter, singer and composer from one of New Orleans’ great… – John Wirt

BackTalk

Delfeayo Marsalis talks back
During these hard coronavirus times, Delfeayo Marsalis has founded Keep NOLA Music Alive. The nonprofit organization will benefit New Orleans musicians… – John Wirt

Features

For singer, producer and engineer Perk, being better is just the beginning
Producer, engineer and singer Perk has been exemplifying the contemporary tradition of New Orleans r&b and soul music for several years,… – Amanda "Bonita" Mester
20 Years of Satchmo SummerFest: How It All Began
It was 2000, the first year of the new millennium, and just like in years past, tourism during the summer in… – Jan Ramsey
What Does Louis Armstrong mean?
What Does Louis Armstrong mean? For the first Satchmo Summerfest in 2000 we asked “What does Louis Armstrong mean?” It is… – OffBeat Staff
Robert Lyall reminisces about his 22 years as Artistic and General Director of the New Orleans Opera
You’ll be stepping down as general director of the New Orleans Opera at the end of this season? Yes. I’ll be… – Stacey Leigh Bridewell
Altering Course: 79rs Gang are ’bout to blow
This had to happen. Mardi Gras Indian music is one of the few remaining signifiers of New Orleans culture. So is… – John Swenson
Troubled Men: Bassist René Coman is figuring it out on the fly
Prior to the season of social distancing, René Coman was one of the busiest musicians in New Orleans. His band the… – Bill Forman

Letters

Letters to the Editor: OffBeat Magazine, August 2020
No tourism no money These letters are in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post “Not to be a Debbie Downer, But…”… – OffBeat Readers

Mojo Mouth

GUEST COLUMNIST: Dr. MarkAlain Déry - An Open Letter to New Orleans Musicians
The past several months have been devastating to the live music scene in New Orleans and consequently to the livelihoods of… – MarkAlain Déry

Fresh

Mask Up! Covid Down! music campaign is encouraging a simple yet effective step
Together with WHIV-FM 102.3 and OffBeat, Louisiana Red Hot Records will present a virtual concert with a very specific goal in… – Amanda "Bonita" Mester
New Orleans Opera Selects First Female General Director
With Robert Lyall stepping down as General Director, a post he occupied for the past 23 years, the New Orleans Opera… – Joseph Irrera

Dining Out

Dining Out: Saj opens on Magazine Street
“I grew up in the Mid-City area and the first time I ever ate at Mona’s was when I was eight… – Amanda "Bonita" Mester

Obituaries

In memoriam: Raymond Lewis (1933-2020)
Raymond Lewis, one of the more colorful characters from the rhythm and blues era, died in New Orleans June 1. He… – Jeff Hannusch
In memoriam: Rod Bernard (1940-2020)
Singer Rod Bernard, who helped to pioneer the swamp pop musical sound, passed away on July 12, 2020 in New Iberia,… – Joseph Irrera
In memoriam: Tamiya “Tami” Lynn (1942-2020)
Tami Lynn, a big-voiced New Orleans songstress and member of the A.F.O family (All For One) died June 26. She was… – Jeff Hannusch
In memoriam: Walter James "Jim" Oertling, Jr. (1942-2020)
New Orleans-born singer/songwriter and rockabilly legend Jim Oertling passed away in his home on July 10, 2020. His family moved to… – Joseph Irrera
In memoriam: Edward Anderson (1966-2020)
When Edward Anderson decided to pursue a career in jazz music, he became engaged in its many facets as a trumpeter,… – Geraldine Wyckoff

OffBeat Eats

Dining Out: Saj opens on Magazine Street
“I grew up in the Mid-City area and the first time I ever ate at Mona’s was when I was eight… – Amanda "Bonita" Mester

Reviews

Dan Penn, Living On Mercy (Last Music)
The Tennessee Williams of modern Southern Soul songwriters, Dan Penn is still composing timely and emotive material at the age… – Jeff Hannusch
Jeff Albert, Unanimous Sources (Breakfast for Dinner)
This is a New Orleans dream of a group led by the voluble and talented Jeff Albert, a terrific composer, trombonist… – John Swenson
Dr. Michael White, Dr. Michael White Live (Basin Street Records)
Whenever clarinetist Dr. Michael White and trumpeter Gregg Stafford pair up on the front line of a band, the… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Louisiana’s LeRoux, One of Those Days (Gulf Coast Records)
As LeRoux should know, 20 years is an incredibly long time between records. The longstanding group’s last release was Ain’t… – Dan Willging
Laura Huval, It’s Never Too Late (Independent)
For nearly a decade, Sweet Cecilia’s Laura Huval has felt the calling to pray more with her music. Still, it… – Dan Willging
Edward “Kidd” Jordan with Joel Futterman, William Parker, Hamid Drake | A Tribute to Alvin Fielder: Live at the Vision Festival XXIV (Mahakala)
One of the missing pieces from 2020 music is the always forward-looking and philosophically probing Vision festival, a New York… – John Swenson
Jason Marsalis, Jason Marsalis Live (Basin Street Records)
That this trio, led by vibraphonist Jason Marsalis, boasts all rhythm instruments states its uniqueness on every cut. These guys—including… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Bobby Rush, Rawer Than Raw (Deep Rush)
For a guy facing his 90th birthday, Bobby Rush sure doesn't let any grass grow under his feet. We… – Jeff Hannusch
Johnny Vidacovich, ’bout Time (Independent)
Johnny Vidacovich is one of the relatively hidden treasures of New Orleans music to outsiders, but locals know how… – John Swenson
Mighty Brother, The Rabbit. The Owl (Independent)
The Rabbit. The Owl presents two sides of the New Orleans indie-Americana-art band Mighty Brother. The Rabbit portion of this… – John Wirt