This week, if people around the country were talking about New Orleans, most were talking about Bill Jefferson. Those who could resist puns and wisecracks at his expense were talking about the death of Willy DeVille, the one-time lead singer for New York punk-era band Mink DeVille. He moved to New Orleans in 1988, and both the New York Times and TheInsider.com had stories on his passing.

A positive note comes from CNN as they nominate and make local Rebirth Brass Band drummer Derrick Tabb this week’s featured CNN Hero for his work in The Roots of Music, a free after-school music program. His effort isn’t the city’s only hope to save-the-music; the University of New Orleans also opens their free music program, the Saturday Music School, this September and is free for selected public school children.

Los Angeles is still buzzing over the Jazz styling’s of Mr. Terence Blanchard as he added personal touches to classic Miles Davis albums at the Hollywood Bowl last Wednesday, August 5th. The Los Angeles Times describes the show in more detail. In more mainstream music news, Lil Wayne blew up Ohio’s Blossom Music Center with rock renditions from his new Rebirth album, Cleveland.com reports. In New York, Harry Connick Jr. hypes his new album Your Songs for release September 22nd via PR Newswire.

And in closely related music news, the Beatles’ Trivial Pursuit game is now in stores with questions created by New Orleans Attorney and Beatles’ historian Bruce Spizer. And that’s the dish for now.