New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Join Rangers from the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve to learn about the rich cultural history that makes New Orleans such a special place. 

Each talk is "Ranger's Choice." The topics will vary by day and by ranger.

This ranger talk takes place at 10:00 am at the National Park Service French Quarter visitor center - 419 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA.

Free.

No reservations required.

Join Rangers from the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve to learn about the rich cultural history that makes New Orleans such a special place. 

Each talk is "Ranger's Choice." The topics will vary by day and by ranger.

This ranger talk takes place at 10:00 am at the National Park Service French Quarter visitor center - 419 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA.

Free.

No reservations required.

The Arrowhead Jazz Band brings together National Park Service Rangers and local musicians to perform traditional New Orleans jazz, blues, gospel, and original compositions.

Join New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Rangers Jade Perdue (vocals/keyboards), Matt Hampsey (guitar), Kerry Lewis, Sr. (bass), and Hunter Miles Davis (drums), Intern Saskia Walker (vocals), Intern Tim Brown II (percussion), with special guest Tim Sullivan (saxophone) for an exploration of jazz music styles.

This program is free and open to the public.

Join Rangers from the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve to learn about the rich cultural history that makes New Orleans such a special place. 

Each talk is "Ranger's Choice." The topics will vary by day and by ranger.

This ranger talk takes place at 10:00 am at the National Park Service French Quarter visitor center - 419 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA.

Free.

No reservations required.

Cristina Kaminis is a Mexican-American singer now living in New Orleans who weaves her unique stylings from French chansons, American blues, Mexican ranchera llanto, and the rhythms of Brazil.

This program is free and open to the public.

Sam Kuslan, an enthralling singer and pianist, exudes an invigorating musical passion on the stage. He performs with a lush romantic musicality, a soulful voice and ebullient smile. Inspired by the great American songbook and raised by the energetic New Orleans tradition, Sam is an amalgam of classic and contemporary pop – a refreshed and renewed music that lives somewhere in between jazz and pop and promises to honor and innovate tradition.

Sam tours extensively in the USA and Europe, either as a featured artist with jazz-funk Naughty Professor, as a sideman with Nashville Country/American-folk artist Sean McConnell or as musical director and leader of the National Park Service Centennial Band. He’s highly sought after as an arranger, artist or performer for his musical versatility having shared the stage with Anders Osborne, Marcus King, Chali 2na, Shaun Martin, Isaiah Sharkey, Leroy Jones, David Shaw and many more. Sam writes and records with Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) and tours with Naughty Professor.

This program is free and open to the public.

This program is free and open to the public. 

Talkin' Jazz with Fred Kasten: In Concert is a captivating blend of interesting talk and great music featuring top jazz artists in New Orleans, hosted monthly by award-winning radio producer and interviewer Fred Kasten. This event will be a mix of interview and live performance. 

Fred Kasten is an independent contributing radio producer/host at WWNO. After working at WWNO for over 20 years as an on-air talent, producer, and program director, Fred retired from full-time work in May of 2007. Fred is a native of Mobile, Alabama, a graduate of the University of Alabama, and a long-time resident of New Orleans. In addition to his work at WWNO, Fred develops independent audio projects from a home studio, producing radio features, commercials, and podcasts. Fred also does marketing and media consulting for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jason Mingledorff is one of the city’s most versatile saxophonists and respected educators. The Grammy-winner can be heard with some of the world’s top bands as well as leading his own straight-ahead jazz combo.

Mingledorff moved from his native Alabama to New Orleans to study with the legendary Ellis Marsalis, and quickly found work with bands such as the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, bluesman Mem Shannon, and a nascent Galactic, and touring nationally with country superstar Clint Black. For 13 years he was an integral part of the popular funk band Papa Grows Funk, and after that band broke up, he toured with St. Paul and the Broken Bones, opening for the Rolling Stones and jamming with the likes of Sir Elton John and Phillip Glass. At home, he can be found playing with English soul-jazz outfit The New Mastersounds, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mishaps (a new incarnation of popular 9th Ward rockers King James & the Special Men), Papa Mali’s Shantytown Underground, and the WWII Museum Victory Swing Orchestra.

Australian-born Belinda Moody (bass) has made NOLA her home for the past 15 years. Before moving to the NOLA, Belinda toured Europe, Asia, and her home country performing with artists such as Teramus Hono, Ernie Watts, Carmen Bradford, and James Moody (no relation!) Belinda’s career highlights include various recorded works of original material and scores for films including the UN-awarded human rights documentary ‘The Sacred Stones’.

This program is free and open to the public.

Alexis “Papo” Guevara is a Latin American guitarist and singer. He was born in Havana, Cuba, but is currently living in Denham Springs, LA. He studied music in Cuba and immigrated to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico in 2000, before coming to the United States. He is a classically trained, with jazz, Latin, and popular influences in his musical style. Alexis has toured the world, performing in France, Mexico, Guatemala and Florida. Alexis is a composer and also a master of traditional Cuban music.

His group, “Papo y Son Mandao," features Guillermo Guzman on trumpet and percussion and Israel Romo on piano.

This program is free and open to the public.

Lilli Lewis skillfully uses her opera training and classical piano skills to create a unique polyglot sound, sliding effortlessly from folk to country to gospel to jazz. Her compositions echo her native Georgia and her chosen hometown of New Orleans. Her album “Americana” was hailed as a top pick by Rolling Stone and NPR. Whether she plays at the Kennedy Center, WWOZ’s Piano Night, or in a sweaty New Orleans club, Lewis imbues her performances with grace, wit, immense talent, and musical authenticity.

This program is free and open to the public.