Nickel-a-Dance, a free series of Sunday afternoon jazz concerts held each spring and fall is returning to its longtime home, The Maison music club, after a long hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions. Free concerts will be held every Sunday from June 6-27 from 4 to 7 p.m. The series attracts a diverse group of fans who gather to celebrate jazz as America’s original music as performed by the best of today’s classic jazz bands.
This season the series features four acclaimed band leaders.
June 6 | Shannon Powell & His New Orleans Jazz All-Stars
Shannon Powell is a highly sought-after drummer and percussionist who has achieved international acclaim for his commanding technique and style. In his early career, Powell toured extensively with Harry Connick, Jr. and released two platinum albums with Connick including, “We Are in Love,” and “Blue Light Red Light.” During subsequent years, Powell has toured with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Marcus Roberts, Diana Krall, Dr. John, Earl King, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and John Scofield.
June 13 | Joe Goldberg & The Function
While studying under Marcus Roberts at Florida State University, Joe Goldberg sharpened his skills on the alto saxophone while adding clarinet to his repertoire. In 2012, after performing the music of Jelly Roll Morton with Roberts at Lincoln Center in New York, Joe became a full-time member of Roberts’ group, The Modern Jazz Generation. In performance with The Function, Joe and his fellow musicians transform any room into a party, drawing inspiration from the such jazz greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Johnny Hodges, Thelonious Monk, Wessell Anderson III, and Wynton Marsalis.
June 20 | Mari Watanabe & Her Chosen Few Jazz Band
Born in Tokyo, Mari Watanabe began piano lessons at age five. She participated in the New Orleans Jazz Club while attending Waseda University in Japan. Upon her first visit to New Orleans, she decided to make the city her permanent home. Since 1986, she has performed at various clubs including Preservation Hall and the Palm Court Jazz Cafe, the French Quarter Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with local jazz legends such as Danny Barker, Dr. Michael White, Gregg Stafford, Ernie K-Doe, Tuba Fats, Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, and Walter “Wolfman” Washington.
June 27 | Tom Fischer & The West End Rhythm Kings
Thomas Fischer was born and raised in the Chicago area and moved to New Orleans in 1989 to join the band of Banu Gibson. One of the city’s most sought-after clarinetists, he has performed everywhere from Preservation Hall to Carnegie Hall. Fischer continues to be a featured performer at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Summer Fest, and many jazz festivals around the world. He is a regular member of the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, recognized as the oldest jazz band in the world, founded by Papa Célestin in 1910.
Nickel-A-Dance is supported by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. For more information, visit here.
