June 01, 2026
Jazz holds a profound significance in the Crescent City, serving as both a cultural emblem and a historical narrative of New Orleans Originating in the early 20th century, this genre reflects the diverse influences of African, European, and Caribbean musical traditions, embodying the rich tapestry of New Orleans’s multicultural heritage. Jazz not only shaped the local music scene but also played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. Today, it continues to be a vital part of the city’s identity, attracting visitors and inspiring new generations of artists, ensuring that the legacy of jazz remains an integral aspect of New Orleans’s cultural landscape.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is at the heart of this landscape. This museum celebrates and preserves the rich heritage of jazz music in its birthplace. Situated in the historic French Quarter at the Old US Mint, the museum not only showcases the evolution of jazz through various exhibits and artifacts but hosts more than 365 live performances plus educational programs, and 15 festivals and community events. The museum fosters a deeper appreciation for jazz, ensuring that both locals and visitors can engage with this dynamic art form. Through its efforts, the New Orleans Jazz Museum reinforces the city’s identity as a global hub for jazz, honoring the musicians and traditions that have shaped this iconic genre.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum recently launched a significant new exhibition titled The First Piano Professors and the Lost Music of Early New Orleans. It features not only rare recordings but a series of public programming initiatives. While New Orleans is celebrated as the birthplace of jazz, the rich musical landscape that paved the way for this genre has long gone unheard. Well before the advent of recording technology and decades prior to the emergence of jazz as we recognize it today, composers in New Orleans were creating piano music that fused African, Afro-Caribbean, Creole, and European influences, foreshadowing the rhythmic energy and emotional depth of jazz. Much of this music has survived only in delicate printed sheet form and has yet to be performed for contemporary audiences. Curated from an extraordinary private collection amassed by pianist John Davis over thirty years, the exhibition brings together rare first-edition scores and newly commissioned recordings, enabling visitors to experience music that has not been recorded since the nineteenth century, music that laid the groundwork for America’s most significant art form. The display will include original sheet music, instruments, photographs, and publishing materials, all set within an immersive sound environment created by a 2x4 in collaboration with the museum’s curatorial and archival teams. The recordings, currently in production, will enhance the gallery experience and broaden the project’s reach through concerts, lectures, and educational programs.
New Orleans Jazz Museum Summer Spotlight:
New Orleans Jazz Museum presents Lafcadio Fest 2026 on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This event honors the life and contributions of Lafcadio Hearn, a notable author from New Orleans, and is organized by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities, including a panel of scholars discussing Hearn’s literary works from New Orleans, the Caribbean, and Japan, as well as a keynote address by biographer Steve Kemme. Additional highlights include presentations by John Kelly, founder of the Krewe of Lafcadio, and Caroline Thomas, a designer of Krewe of Rex floats, alongside community reflections on the enduring ties between New Orleans and its sister city, Matsue, Japan. Guests will also enjoy sushi from Greta’s, virtual appearances by the mayor of Matsue and Hearn’s great-grandson, and unexpected musical performances. Admission is free and open to the public.
Satchmo Summer Fest takes place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on August 1st and 2nd. The two-day celebration is one of the only festivals in the world dedicated to honoring Louis Armstrong and features two stages of music, a delicious culinary lineup featuring Louisiana restaurants, and an incredible indoor lecture series poised to educate guests on Armstrong’s history and enduring impact. For more information visit https://frenchquarterfest.org/satchmo/
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is at the heart of this landscape. This museum celebrates and preserves the rich heritage of jazz music in its birthplace. Situated in the historic French Quarter at the Old US Mint, the museum not only showcases the evolution of jazz through various exhibits and artifacts but hosts more than 365 live performances plus educational programs, and 15 festivals and community events. The museum fosters a deeper appreciation for jazz, ensuring that both locals and visitors can engage with this dynamic art form. Through its efforts, the New Orleans Jazz Museum reinforces the city’s identity as a global hub for jazz, honoring the musicians and traditions that have shaped this iconic genre.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum recently launched a significant new exhibition titled The First Piano Professors and the Lost Music of Early New Orleans. It features not only rare recordings but a series of public programming initiatives. While New Orleans is celebrated as the birthplace of jazz, the rich musical landscape that paved the way for this genre has long gone unheard. Well before the advent of recording technology and decades prior to the emergence of jazz as we recognize it today, composers in New Orleans were creating piano music that fused African, Afro-Caribbean, Creole, and European influences, foreshadowing the rhythmic energy and emotional depth of jazz. Much of this music has survived only in delicate printed sheet form and has yet to be performed for contemporary audiences. Curated from an extraordinary private collection amassed by pianist John Davis over thirty years, the exhibition brings together rare first-edition scores and newly commissioned recordings, enabling visitors to experience music that has not been recorded since the nineteenth century, music that laid the groundwork for America’s most significant art form. The display will include original sheet music, instruments, photographs, and publishing materials, all set within an immersive sound environment created by a 2x4 in collaboration with the museum’s curatorial and archival teams. The recordings, currently in production, will enhance the gallery experience and broaden the project’s reach through concerts, lectures, and educational programs.
New Orleans Jazz Museum Summer Spotlight:
New Orleans Jazz Museum presents Lafcadio Fest 2026 on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This event honors the life and contributions of Lafcadio Hearn, a notable author from New Orleans, and is organized by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities, including a panel of scholars discussing Hearn’s literary works from New Orleans, the Caribbean, and Japan, as well as a keynote address by biographer Steve Kemme. Additional highlights include presentations by John Kelly, founder of the Krewe of Lafcadio, and Caroline Thomas, a designer of Krewe of Rex floats, alongside community reflections on the enduring ties between New Orleans and its sister city, Matsue, Japan. Guests will also enjoy sushi from Greta’s, virtual appearances by the mayor of Matsue and Hearn’s great-grandson, and unexpected musical performances. Admission is free and open to the public.
Satchmo Summer Fest takes place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on August 1st and 2nd. The two-day celebration is one of the only festivals in the world dedicated to honoring Louis Armstrong and features two stages of music, a delicious culinary lineup featuring Louisiana restaurants, and an incredible indoor lecture series poised to educate guests on Armstrong’s history and enduring impact. For more information visit https://frenchquarterfest.org/satchmo/
