The New Orleans Jazz Museum will host a daylong series of concerts from the courtyard balcony on Tuesday, October 12. Jazz Between Fests will be presented as a showcase of musicians and artists affected by widespread live venue closures throughout the pandemic and the postponement of major music festivals in New Orleans for the last last year and a half.
The festival is free and gates open at 10 a,m. and the lineup is as follows:
10:30–11:30 a.m. | Lulu and the Broadsides
For more than two decades, over the course of a career that took her around the world and back again, singer-songwriter Dayna Kurtz circled back to New Orleans constantly, building a musical community and a fan base until finally, in 2010 she was able to put down roots in the city and make it her home base. She leads Lulu and the Broadsides, a band known for slinging made-for-dancing sets of vintage rhythm and blues with the emphasis on rhythm. Formed in part to respond to demand from New Orleans’ hip, thriving underground vintage dance scene.
11:50 a.m.–1 p.m. | Matt Booth and the Palindromes
Formed in 2016, bassist Matt Booth’s quartet the Palindromes features an all-star cast of New Orleans improvisers, including Brad Walker on saxophones, Chris Alford on guitar, and Doug Garrison on drums. The band explores a variety of moods and textures, from the patiently meditative to the wildly bombastic, with an emphasis on deep listening and collective play.
1:30–2:45 p.m. | Marina Orchestra
Upbeat grooves to block your blues, Marina Orchestra will make you swoon in your sandals, but look out for the seagulls. This New Orleans based beach rock outfit helmed by singer/songwriter Justin Powers delivers on the good vibes. Much like other prominent rockers of yore like David Byrne of Talking Heads and Paul Simon, Marina Orchestra cleverly weaves between genres creating a rollicking and groovy style of rock that is distinctly original. Known for their vibrant musical energy and life affirming lyrics the band has wowed audiences with their soaring vocal harmonies and danceable rhythms.
3–4 p.m. | Amina Scott
Born and raised in Oakland, California, is an upright and electric bassist, composer, and arranger. Her interest in music began at an early age when her grandmother began giving her piano lessons. From then, her love and passion for music has yet to cease, playing electric bass at the age of twelve and was soon playing gigs with local bands in Oakland. Now based in New Orleans, Amina has performed with various artists including Steve Turre, Wessell “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Nicholas Payton, David Murray, Jamison Ross, Joanne Brackeen, Herlin Riley, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, and more.
4:20–5:20 p.m. | Nayo Jones Experience
Nayo Jones was born in Chicago into a family of musicians and destined to be in show business. As an accomplished jazz musician and music educator, her father William “Doc” Jones groomed and nurtured her natural ability from a very young age. Nayo grew up listening to Jazz standards that proved to be a solid foundation and would later become a signature in her own show. Accomplished in her own right, Jones is also a classically trained flutist. Currently based in New Orleans, Jones performs regularly with her band The Nayo Jones Experience. She also tours alongside New Orleans iconic jazz trumpeter Kermit Ruffins as a featured vocalist. Recently, she has also joined forces with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra led by Adonis Rose. She has also been the opening act for legendary George Benson, Chris Botti and more.
5:40–6:40 p.m. | Wendell Brunious and the Porch Party Band
Wendell Brunious grew up in New Orleans playing trumpet and singing, and did his first recording when he was only 9 years old. Since then, he has performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (a stint that lasted more than 23 years), the Olympia Brass Band, the Tuxedo Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Bob Haggard and Harry Connick, Jr.
7–8 p.m. | George Porter Jr. Trio
The George Porter Jr. Trio features George Porter Jr. on bass and vocals, Michael Lemmler on keyboards and Terrence Houston on drums and vocals. Porter describes the band as “three experienced musicians coming out to play together, no rehearsal, no set lists, no idea of what’s going to happen. We are there to listen and play off of each other as best as three musicians can play to present a series of songs that are organically played in that moment.”
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is located at 400 Esplanade Street. For more information, visit here. The concerts will also be livestreamed on OffBeat’s Facebook page.
