INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
Music of New Orleans in Perigueux
Festival
In August of 2011 the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians went to Bordeaux, France to be a part of the MNOP Festival. While there to perform, the Queen of the Guardians, Cherice Harrison Nelson held workshops with students who created costumes with the group and were later able to go on stage and show off their beautiful work to the audience. On Saturday the group led a traditional New Orleans second line parade through the streets and markets of Perigueux joined by some jazz musicians from Spain and France.
Gnaoua & World Music Festival
Donald Harrison’s Congo Nation went to Morocco for the 12th annual Gnaoua & World Music Festival A festival supported by a grant from USArtists International, the project which brought together Harrison’s Mardi Gras Indian traditions in collaboration with ensembles from the rich Gnaoua (or Gnawa) black Moroccan traditions. The groups came together beautifully during the festival, the weekend of June 25-28th 2009 in the lovely Moroccan seaside town of Essaouira on the shores of the Atlantic. Each June that idyllic, tranquil town of 70,000 inhabitants is transformed by hundreds of thousands of festival goers who descend on the seaside for this unique free festival. One of the keys to the Gnaoua Festival has long been their custom of inviting improvisers from the West (along with artists and bands from sub-Saharan Africa) to the festival to interact with Gnawa musicians. These invited guests have included such notables as Archie Shepp, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Joe Zawinul Syndicate, Pat Metheny Trio and many others, including a host of soloists. After their Chez Kebir hook-up the Gnawa musicians were effusive in excitedly informing Donald and the other members of Congo Nation that this evening marked what for them was their closest, most successful collaboration ever with Western musicians!
NANCY JAZZ PULSATIONS FESTIVAL
Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Commanches, as well as the Treme Brass Band, were invited to perform at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations (NJP) festival this October at the 40th anniversary in Nancy, France. This year, the festival returns to the roots of jazz with its New Orleans themed program, celebrating the birthplace of iconic Big Easy artists and those who keep the spirit moving today. The New Orleans Jazz Celebration was the fiscal agent for the grant request to the MidAtlantic Arts Foundation.
Chief Juan Pardo is one of the younger Chief out there, but that doesn't stop him from being one of the best new voices in mastering the old Big Chief sound bellowing from the Crescent City. Chief Juan Pardo recently appeared on the critically acclaimed record "Carnivale" by Galactic.
The Treme Brass Band is a staple among New Orleans' marching band, hailing from the Treme neighborhood and playing traditional styled brass band music. Their ever shifting line up has included some of the biggest names in New Orleans jazz including Danny Barker,Kermit Ruffins and Lionel Batiste. "Music is the lifeblood of New Orleans in general and the Treme in particular, where jam sessions thrive."-Rose of Sharon Witmer
JAMMIN' WITH JAZZ
Jammin with Jazz( 1993-1996) is an informance program touring state wide throughout Louisiana with the mission to bring jazz and performing arts programs to schools and communities with little funding. Jammin with Jazz develops new audiences among students so that they can understand, enjoy and support the art form.
Jammin with Jazz:
The Charmaine Neville Band "A World of Rhythms" Presentation
The Centennial Jazz Band "The Development of Jazz" Presentation
The Guardians of the Flame "The Mardi Gras Indians" Presentation
SUPPORTED BY:
National Endowment For the Art, The Louisiana State Arts Council, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office Of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Arts Council of New Orleans, The American Federation of Musicians, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation