So my co-worker turned to me, and asked me if I could recommend any New Orleans style Jazz artists to him.
I turned to him, and said with full confidence…
“I have no idea!”
So, in that vein, recommend to me, some of that old tyme, roof ripping, horn blowing, gin swilling New Orleans Jazz.
And I’ll enjoy it too, I hope.
Thanks!!
To get started, check out Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s site for a sense of what’s involved in living proponents of that music.
Two words: Louis Armstrong
For a more modern/funky spin on the classic sound, the Rebirth Brass Band is probably the hottest brass sound coming out of New Orleans right now. I’d also recommend Kermit Ruffins & The Barbeque swingers for some beautifully crisp trumpet, a badass trombone, and a sweet gravelly voice that brings the old standards to a new level.
Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, Dukes of Dixieland, Firehouse Five Plus Two, Dejean’s Olympia Brass Band (they’re the funeral band in Live and Let Die), Music Medicine - Zero Side Effects, Dwight Kennedy, The Wolverines Jazz Band, New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Canal Street Hot 6…and let’s not forget Harry Connick, Jr.
Oh yeah, I meant to include Dr. John–he’s more honkytonk than jazz, though.
Why stop there? Can’t mention the good Dr. without Professor Longhair and James Booker 
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Hirt"Al Hirt
Get you to http://redhotjazz.com/bands.html . It’s a regular Free University of Traditional Jazz. I was going to list links to N.O. influenced bands, but there are just too damn many. Read on through and get hep.
Check out Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings. They established the entire genre.
More modern, Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Add:
Kid Ory, Jack Teagarden, Jelly Roll Morton
More Recent:
New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Soul Rebels, Bo Dollis & Wild Magnolias, Nicholas Payton
All the above, and I have no problem with adding that NOLA musicians are in sad distress right now, and can use a leg up to continue that legacy.Keep it Going.
Tristan: New Orleans was the birthplace of a music that then morphed into modern American popular music; you can trace all those old sounds to what is now broadcast all over the world as the best hip-shake. Rock and Roll came largely from that NOLA heartbeat. Those roots are worth understanding.
For historical performers don’t forget King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds, Wingy Manone and Clarence Williams. If you’re willing to get away from pure New Orleans jazz there’s also Red Allen, Bix Beiderbecke, Fletcher Henderson, Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, Benny Moten, Luis Russell (especially from 1929 through 1934), Frank Trumbauer and George Lewis.
For current bands I recommend Jim Cullum, Evan Christopher, Dr. Michael White, the Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble and Walter Payton (Nicholas Payton’s father).
Speaking of Pete Fountain, he just went through a pretty significant bypass but seems to be doing ok. Here’s to hoping he’ll be blowing by Jazz Fest!