On October 20, New Orleans’ Black Men of Labor, sponsored in part by the New Orleans Culture and Tourism Fund, will host Culture Noir, Musique et Experience Artistique, at the Sheraton Hotel’s Armstrong Ballroom.

The Black Men of Labor is an organization whose purpose is to preserve and pay tribute to the jazz culture in New Orleans, which has primarily African-American roots. It was founded in 1993 by Fred J. Johnson, Jr., Benny Jones, Sr. (Treme Brass Band) and Gregory Stafford (Dirty Dozen Brass Band). According to their website, the group hosts second-line parades and tributes to iconic New Orleans jazz musicians, the first being Danny Barker in 1994.

The BMOL also runs several outreach organizations across New Orleans. Their Building Minds of Leaders initiative works with socially- and economically disadvantaged young men across New Orleans, helping with general life skills “through music and mathematics.”

The upcoming gala will be held in memory of legendary jazz musicians Peter “Chuck” Badie and Edward “Kidd” Jordan. The event will also honor musicians Germaine P. Bazzle, Lawerence Cotton, Charles “Charlie” Gabriel, Daniel Farrow, Roger Dickerson, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Roger Lewis, Thais Clark, Benny Jones, Sr and Lester Caliste.

The group is “inviting everyone to come out and celebrate over eight hundred-plus years of educating, mentoring, performing, and living life,” they announced. Tickets are $100 per person, and tables are $1000 for 10 seats.